Germany puts pressure against the European veto right

Hide these recalcitrant member states from me that I cannot see. Such is the ambition of some countries – in this case, twelve including France – within the European Union. Germany is at the forefront of this. This Wednesday, May 6, during a speech at the 13th conference of the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation in Berlin, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul revived this idea, which our neighbors across the Rhine have been carrying for several years.

“Germany wants to drive change and play a decisive role within the EU” and “Brussels must accelerate the pace to achieve this, especially in terms of foreign and security policy,” he said. In his sights, the veto right that allows member states to block certain proposals in foreign and fiscal policy matters. “What is the true objective of the principle of unanimity? This principle was established to guarantee the most sensitive foundation of national sovereignty: foreign and defense policy.” But “what remains of this national sovereignty if its exercise can be blocked by a single member state? Nothing. It is reduced to nothing,” believes the German conservative, not sparing in sophisms.

The targeted small states

Germany therefore argues for standardization of the qualified majority rule. On most issues, it is already active. It only takes 55% of the states representing 65% of the European population for a non-veto eligible measure to be adopted. Berlin wants to prevent the EU from being “taken hostage by national and foreign interests.” This is enough to ruffle the feathers of the less populous member states in the European zone. Or those losing influence, a category which now seems to include France – which, however, is becoming increasingly favorable to the abolition…