Hungary slows down EU sanctions on Russian oil. It is now being debated whether the EU should abandon the need for unanimity in decisions.
9.5. 17: 01 • Updated May 9. 17:04
The President of France Emmanuel Macron is ready to amend the EU Treaties.
Macron spoke on Europe Day in Strasbourg, France, at the closing session of the Conference on the Future of the EU.
It may sound distant, but it is on the surface and hot potatoes in the EU right now.
Citizens and EU leaders: break free from unanimity
The debate on the Treaty began with the conference on the future of the EU.
Last week, it proposed 49 changes to EU decision-making: including more qualified majority voting instead of unanimity.
In unanimous decisions, one country could stall the whole of EU decision-making – as is currently the case with Hungary’s slowdown in extending EU sanctions to Russian oil.
The majority of EU policy is already adopted by qualified majority voting. However, decisions relating to the common foreign and security policy, for example, are still taken unanimously.
– The Treaties need to be amended. The initiative to prepare the matter has come from the European Parliament and I support it, Macron said.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola were on the same line in Strasbourg.
– In some key areas, unanimity in decision-making does not work if we want to move faster, von der Leyen said.
The whole question is also intertwined as to whether the people will be heard or not. The EU has promised to take into account the proposals made by the people at the Future Conference.
Finland and other small countries oppose it
However, opening up the Treaties and changing majority decisions is anything but easy.
Finland and other small EU countries are opposed to the change, as it would reduce their power.
In unanimity decisions, the vote of each country is equal, but in qualified majority voting, the big countries have more votes.
According to the news agency Reuters, the next Czech presidency of the EU has sent a letter to the EU Commission opposing the amendment of the treaties. The letter has been signed by 13 countries, half of them.
According to Politico, Finland, Sweden and Denmark are also signatories.
Countries say they do not want to categorically oppose any options. However, they say they want the EU to focus on the problems we are currently facing, namely Russia, climate change and economic recovery.
Finland has not commented on its involvement in the letter.
You can discuss the topic on 10.5. until 11 p.m.