Berlin calls for scrapping EU unanimity on foreign affairs

Germany’s top diplomat has launched a sharp critique of the European Union’s consensus-based decision-making, arguing that the unanimity rule has become a major obstacle to effective international action. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul insisted that Brussels must reform its foreign and security policy mechanisms without delay.

Wadephul’s reform push

Speaking to the Funke Media Group, the German minister pointed to recent tensions with Hungary over EU-backed aid to Ukraine as a clear example of the system’s flaws. “We should abolish the unanimity principle in EU foreign and security policy before the end of the current legislative period,” Wadephul stated, adding that the bloc needs to become “truly grown-up” and capable of acting decisively. He expressed strong support for shifting to qualified majority voting among the 27 member states.

Hungary’s veto and the Druzhba dispute

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has single-handedly blocked a €90 billion loan package for Ukraine, linking Budapest’s approval to the restoration of Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline. While Hungary accuses Kyiv of deliberately halting the flow, Ukraine maintains that a Russian strike caused the disruption. The standoff has exposed deep divisions within the EU, with Germany leading calls to prevent individual nations from holding the bloc hostage over narrow national interests.

Qualified majority as a solution

Under the qualified majority system proposed by Wadephul, an EU decision would require support from at least 55% of member states representing 65% of the bloc’s population. “All the experience we have gained over recent weeks with aid for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia indicates this is necessary,” the German minister said. He argued that such a change would allow the EU to respond more swiftly to global crises, from military conflicts to economic pressure campaigns.

Respect for Hungary’s sovereignty

Despite his sharp criticism of Budapest’s veto, Wadephul acknowledged that the upcoming Hungarian general elections on April 12 remain a matter for Hungarian voters to decide. He confirmed that Germany would work with any administration that emerges from the ballot box. Orban, who has led Hungary since 2010, has frequently clashed with EU counterparts on issues ranging from rule of law to energy security, making him a central figure in the broader debate over EU reform. For Türkiye, which has long faced opaque decision-making processes within the EU, these internal debates are closely watched as signals of the bloc’s future cohesion and reliability as a strategic partner.