Eleven European Union countries are pushing to end what they call “obstructive” vetoes in the bloc’s foreign policy, urging the EU to explore replacing unanimity with qualified majority voting.
Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain and Sweden signed a joint letter addressed to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Euronews reported on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
“The Union’s culture of consensus is an important source of its legitimacy. Therefore, we continue to strive for consensus wherever possible,” the countries wrote.
“But we must also ensure that this culture of consensus fosters common action rather than preventing it – otherwise we will have legitimacy but no strength.”
Under current EU rules, foreign policy decisions generally require the unanimous approval of all 27 member states, meaning a single country can block a decision supported by the other 26.
The signatories argue that the EU needs to act faster and more effectively in response to growing strategic competition, instability and challenges to the rules-based international order.
5 principles for EU foreign policy
The countries proposed five principles to improve the bloc’s decision-making:
- uphold sincere cooperation and mutual solidarity
- increase the use of constructive abstentions instead of vetoes
- avoid linking foreign policy decisions to substantially unrelated issues
- explore options under EU treaties to move from unanimity to qualified majority voting
- require “substantiated vital reasons” to block such a move
“The legal framework for all five principles is already in place. It is solely up to us to put them into action and thus advance our foreign policy,” the letter said.
The proposal could involve activating the so-called passerelle clause under Article 31 of the EU treaties, allowing a shift from unanimity to qualified majority voting in certain foreign policy areas.
Supporters argue that the change would speed up decision-making and prevent individual countries from using vetoes to extract concessions. Critics say it could weaken democratic legitimacy, while smaller EU states view the veto as an important safeguard for their national interests.
The proposal itself faces a major obstacle: moving from unanimity to qualified majority voting would require unanimity, meaning countries opposed to the reform could potentially block it.
The push has gained momentum following the defeat of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose government repeatedly used Hungary’s veto to obstruct EU decisions.
Germany and France have also discussed a plan to strengthen Kallas’ role while placing her under the direct supervision of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.