Bojan Lazarevski / Jan 2025
European Council meeting room. Photo: Shutterstock
Today’s rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape requires strong leadership and quick decision-making from international actors. Unfortunately, the EU's foreign policy risks being left behind, hampered by outdated procedures and the need for unanimous consensus, which often leads to delays and institutional gridlock. Embracing Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) offers a clear path forward, enabling the EU to respond more effectively to global challenges.
Unanimous voting, initially intended to preserve unity, has instead shown inefficiency, complicating decision-making processes. Today, when it comes to foreign policy or enlargement decisions, a single country can derail important initiatives. This is not just a theoretical problem but a practical one which can cost lives, security, and Europe’s global standing.
Striving for consensus among all countries might seem like the logical approach to ensuring that everyone is satisfied with the decision, but it often leads to a situation where the disagreement of just one or a few nations results in the dissatisfaction of the majority. There is too much power in the ‘veto.’ This approach can obstruct common European priorities, allowing national interests to take precedence, which can weaken the EU´s unified position on critical issues.
Vetoes are not always driven by national interests. They also show vulnerability to external pressure and manipulation. In this case, individual member states can act as Trojan Horses, stopping critical decisions at the behest of foreign interests. Whether it’s Russian or Chinese influence or the possibility of a future U.S. administration pressuring a loyal European government to obstruct funding for Ukraine, the risk is real.
For years, a small number of member states have been able to block crucial decisions, paralysing the EU's ability to respond to global crises swiftly and effectively. Now, the question is no longer if but when the EU will finally reform its decision-making process to ensure it is ready for the challenges of the 21st century.
The solution already exists, but it needs political will to be implemented. It is high time for the EU to adopt Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) as its default mechanism for critical decisions.
QMV empowers the Union to act with a 55% majority of member states representing at least 65% of the population, enabling progress without the vetoes which often paralyse decision-making. Whether it’s enforcing sanctions, advancing foreign policy, or tackling energy reform, the expansion of QMV is the key to unlocking Europe’s potential.
By replacing the unanimity rule with QMV, which is already used successfully in many policy areas, the EU can respond swiftly to crises and assert itself as a global leader. That way, Europe can ensure the interests of a single state cannot derail the collective will of Europe. Otherwise, Europe loses, and other actors will fill the vacuum of influence.
This reform tackles two crucial points: more efficiency in the process of policy making by reducing delays caused by unanimous voting, enabling the EU to respond quickly to urgent policy challenges and crises, and facilitating the enlargement process which will remain susceptible to external influences, upholding the promise to aspiring member states. Both reasons are essential for the EU to remain a credible geopolitical actor.
The Passerelle-clause already allows for QMV changes related to foreign policy only, and it still needs gradual extension which would allow member states to agree on a case-by-case basis. Enlargement, however, will require a Treaty change, which will be more difficult, but the stakes demand we start the conversation. With a growing consensus on the need for institutional reforms gaining momentum (before the next enlargement), there’s no better time to make QMV part of the agenda.
A lot of time has passed since the last EU reforms, but reforms in the decision-making process in key areas are becoming a necessity and must be given urgent importance.The status quo of unanimous voting is no longer fit for purpose, leaving Europe vulnerable to paralysis at moments when bold leadership is most required. And while the answer is simple, its implementation requires more effort.
Concretely, while the expansion of QMV has already been recognised as a key component of broader efforts to enhance EU governance and efficiency, as emphasised in initiatives such as the Granada Declaration. Translating this recognition into actionable treaty changes will require unanimous support.
EU leaders must prioritise this transformation in the near future. The upcoming EU Council meetings and the 2024 elections provide a golden opportunity to push for change. Citizens, too, have a role to play: demanding their representatives champion a stronger, more agile Europe.
The geopolitical landscape demands urgent action. Europe must not remain stuck in a cycle of indecision. QMV should not be seen as a mere procedural fix. Instead, it is Europe’s safeguard against manipulation and a step toward true independence on the global stage.
Bojan Lazarevski is a political scientist in international and intercultural studies based in North Macedonia. Bojan is also a writing fellow with Young Voices Europe and an activist and researcher.
