German Chancellor Olaf Scholz proposes that the European Council abandon the system of unanimity voting and switch to qualified majority voting. According to him, unanimous decision-making only works when there is no need to make decisions quickly. Scholz said so during his lecture entitled The Future of Europe in the Karolina Building of Charles University in Prague. According to him, the Russian conflict with Ukraine has shown that the veto rule is no longer relevant for the EU, The Postedia reports.
“In the Council of the EU, at ministerial level, it is necessary to act quickly and pragmatically. This must also be possible in the future. Where today it is necessary to take decisions unanimously, the risk that a single country’s veto blocks the will of all other members increases with each additional member state. Anyone who thinks otherwise is denying the European reality,” said Scholz.
“That is why I have proposed that in the area of common foreign policy, but also in other areas, for example tax policy, we gradually move to qualified majority decisions. Although I am aware that this will also have consequences for Germany. We must realize that insisting on unanimous decision-making can only work in times that do not require rapid decision-making,” the German Chancellor told the audience at the Karolina building, adding that since the Russian conflict with Ukraine it has become clear that unanimous voting does not make sense.
“Where unanimity is required today, the risk increases with each additional member state that one country will use its right of veto and prevent all others from developing,” Scholz added.
“I fully understand the concerns of the smaller Member States in particular. Even in the future, we have to listen to the problems of all Member States – anything else would be a betrayal of the European idea. And because that I take these concerns very seriously, I say: let’s seek compromises together,” said Chancellor of Karolina.
“I could imagine, for example, that we start with qualified majority decision-making first in areas where it is absolutely crucial that we speak with one voice. For example, in the field of sanctions or human rights”, suggests the Chancellor.
The issue of moving voting within the EU from a necessary consensus to a qualified majority is not new. Since the summer, however, pressure has once again increased for changes in decision-making, especially in foreign and security policy. Qualified majority voting would put small countries at a serious disadvantage. Such a vote means the necessary approval of 15 of the 27 members, who must also represent at least 65% of the total EU population.
