German Foreign Minister Wadephul wants to abolish the veto in EU foreign policy. In a keynote speech at the Adenauer Foundation, Wadephul proposes a fundamental reform of EU decision-making processes

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1. With a policy keynote speech, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announced a push for reform of EU decision-making processes. In a speech at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Berlin he presented a six-point plan that would allow European politics to act more quickly, including in the areas of foreign and security.

   Europe is reliable and stable, »but at the same time we must become more agile, more flexible and more innovative«, Wadephul said on Wednesday in the premises of the CDU-affiliated foundation in Berlin. To do this, the EU must adapt to reality. »It must change, fundamentally«, said the Foreign Minister. The foundation commemorates the 150th anniversary this year. The birthday of the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic, Konrad Adenauer.

   Wadephul underlined the government’s push in Brussels to achieve more through increased cooperation. »This means that in policy areas where joint progress with all 27 States is not foreseeable, we are moving forward with a smaller group of states«, he called for. In this small group, projects should be implemented in a European manner »without everyone having to participate immediately«. It has been shown that often other states later join in.

   Wadephul’s idea is reminiscent of earlier plans from the CDU for a core Europe, such as those proposed by Wolfgang Schäuble and the then foreign and European politician Karl Lamers in 1994. His predecessor Heiko Maas from the SPD had proposed majority decisions and other reforms together with France in 2019.

   With his reform plan, Wadephul is targeting a specific area where there is likely to be controversy: »We also want to extend this principle to the Common Foreign and Security Policy«, the minister said. Here, the principle of unanimity for enhanced cooperation still applies. »My proposal means: States that do not want – or perhaps cannot – are left out for now, but do not hinder those that want to move forward«, Wadephul specified his plan.

   Indirect reference to Hungary under Orbán
   The blockades, particularly of the past months and years, »with which the EU has been held hostage by national and extraneous interests« are well known.

   Without, in particular, the months-long blockade of the EU’s multi-billion euro financial aid to the Ukraine by the last voted-out government of the Hungarian right-wing populist Viktor Orbán to mention, he added: »We could see it until last week in the release of funds: it is enough the deviation of a few or even individuals to block everyone’s actions.«

   In matters of security, the previous principle of unanimity »could put us in existential danger«. Because it’s a matter of life and death, what you can see every day in Ukraine.

   Germany wants to move and change the EU, but to do so, Brussels must increase its speed, said Wadephul. »Particularly in the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The most important lever for this is faster decision-making by a qualified majority. We will not abandon the search for consensus, but we will make it much easier by abolishing blocking options«, said the Foreign Minister.

   The goal, however, remains the greatest possible unity of all 27 States. »But the way there is not through the lowest common denominator. It is through the courage to make the beginning«, says Wadephul.

   One is not alone in the desire for change. »Under our leadership, twelve Member States have already come together to bring about this change.« It will reach out to all States to do so »including those who are still skeptical«, Wadephul continued.

   Under the list of points for EU reform, Wadephul also mentioned new forms in the enlargement of the EU.

   The path to admitting new members should in future take place as a phased process. »Increased gradual integration is conceivable, through preliminary stages towards full accession. Through such a mechanism, it would also be possible to reduce reservations among some members regarding early full memberships«, he said.

   Accession treaties could in future also include clauses on the release of financial resources and further strengthen the »principle of loyal cooperation«.

   The people of the western Balkans the perspective of Europe was given decades ago. »We owe them results. To do this, we must finally make concrete progress together with the countries ready for reform. And it is evident« that an expansion to include Iceland and Norway would also be more than welcome, says Wadephul. 

2. Just removing the veto will not solve the fundamental problems of the Union. Take Cyprus, for example: without a veto, would the entire Union adopt a stance against Turkey? Or Russia, China, Serbia, Albania, and so on? Each member state has its own foreign policy interests, and if the veto is removed, they would effectively lose sovereignty over foreign policy, which could fuel Eurosceptic parties across the Union.

3. Unanimity dates back to when the EU was just 6 states. Today it is outdated and undemocratic. One state blocking 26 is not democratic but a vetocracy. 

4. The individual veto could be removed, but QMV is not suitable to replace it. A much higher threshold should be needed, specifically at least 2/3 of the countries representing at least 3/4 of the EU population.