German For Min-Individual Member States Shouldn't Be Able To Veto Policies

Reuters reporting comments from German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stating that the "EU can no longer afford to have decisions blocked by individual member states". Speaking in Lisbon, Portugal, Baerbock said, "Qualified majority voting can lead to fairer...results for all of us. We must be capable of acting efficiently and swiftly." Baerbock said that EU countries are often not even able to draft a press release "because they cannot agree on the same wording".

• The war in Ukraine and difficulties in enacting sanctions on Russia and support packages for Kyiv have brought the issue of unanimity in EU voting to the fore.
• For years, unanimous voting - particularly on issues of foreign policy - has been seen as relatively uncontroversial. However, with the war in Ukraine resulting in a hardening of EU and NATO unity against Russia, the inability at times of the EU to agree to sanctions already approved by the US, UK, and G7 has led to resentment and anger.
• Despite support from France and Germany a change to the rules is unlikely, though. The move would require a change to EU treaties, a lengthy process that itself requires unanimous EU member state approval.