German top diplomat urges EU to drop unanimity to become “effective actor”

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has called on the European Union to abandon the unanimity principle, arguing that the bloc must evolve into an “effective actor” in international affairs.

The CDU politician said the shift should begin in foreign and security policy if the EU wants to act more decisively on the global stage and “truly come of age,” he said, speaking to a German news agency.

"To be an effective actor internationally, to truly come of age, we should abolish the unanimity principle in the EU’s foreign and security policy before this legislative period comes to an end," the foreign minister said.

Instead, Wadephul argued, the EU should adopt qualified majority voting in these areas. He pointed to recent challenges in approving aid for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, referring in particular to Viktor Orbán, who has long blocked a €90 billion EU loan package for Kyiv.

The unanimity principle requires all member states within the Council of the European Union to agree on decisions in certain sensitive policy areas. Since the Single European Act, however, its scope has gradually been reduced in favour of qualified majority voting, allowing legislation to pass without full consensus.

According to the Council, unanimity is still required in key areas such as foreign and security policy (with limited exceptions), EU citizenship, enlargement, indirect taxation, the bloc’s long-term budget, and certain aspects of justice, policing, and social protection.

Application of veto vote

Hungary’s opposition to the €90 billion Ukraine package is only the latest example of how unanimity can stall decision-making. To date, 48 European Council decisions have been vetoed, as Euronews recalls. Hungary leads with 21 vetoes, followed by Poland with seven, while Greece, the Netherlands, and Austria have each used their veto twice. Other countries, including Cyprus, Romania, and Bulgaria, have exercised it at least once.

“The European Union is a complex animal. Decisions are made differently across policy areas, and member states have strong incentives to exercise power. This is a major issue, because it can really block decision-making at a time where unity is needed”, Patrick Müller, professor for European Studies at the Centre for European Integration Research and the Vienna School for International Studies, told the outlet.

Debates in Brussels over the unanimity rule have intensified since 2022, as Hungary’s repeated vetoes of sanctions and financial aid for Ukraine have raised concerns about political gridlock. Critics increasingly argue that expanding qualified majority voting could help the EU respond more effectively to crises.

By Nazrin Sadigova