Politico: Vetoes paralyse EU foreign policy

The European Union’s repeated failures in foreign policy – from difficulties funding Ukraine to the incoherent response to the war with Iran – are reigniting debate about fundamental reform of diplomatic decision-making. According to diplomats, officials and experts who spoke to Politico, the system often paralyses decisions because individual states can block joint action.

The inability to unblock large-scale financial aid to Kyiv, to adopt sanctions or to respond in a unified way to geopolitical challenges has raised concerns that the Union is losing influence at a time of rising tensions worldwide. Diplomatic sources warn that EU decision-making is lagging behind the pace of conflict.

Some countries, led by Germany and Sweden, are therefore pushing to reduce or abolish the veto. They argue that unanimity prevents the Union from acting effectively and weakens its ability to respond to crises.

By contrast, states such as France, Belgium and several smaller member states defend the veto and consider it crucial for protecting national interests. Criticism of the system has been reinforced by Hungary’s repeated blocking of decisions.

There is also debate about adjustments to European diplomacy, but many argue that the core problem remains unanimity itself, which allows individual states to halt joint decisions.

(bak)