Spain is in favor of ending the unanimity rule in EU Council voting on foreign and security policy matters and in favor of establishing qualified majority rule, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Alvarez said.
Spain to change voting system
Spain’s diplomatic chief added that his country aims to change the voting system during the EU Council’s six-month cycle from July this year.
At least nine EU countries, including Germany, have taken a similar stance. The aim is to improve decision-making on strategic issues and overcome the possibility of a single-country veto that would weaken the EU, especially at a critical moment in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
He writes for the daily El Pais. The newspaper gave the example of Hungary, which is blocking negotiations on new sanctions against Russia.
“A qualified majority group of friends
On Monday in Brussels, Minister Albarez participated in the official opening ceremony of a group of qualified majority friends. It’s a German initiative launched in early May, along with Spain, Belgium, Finland, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Slovenia. Romania joined it on Monday.
We need to rethink the rules that regulate us to make effective decisions
Alvarez said.
The war in Ukraine shows the importance of swift and coordinated action. This position was presented by German Chancellor Olaf Schaalz in a speech in Strasbourg a month ago.
Reminiscent of El Pais.
A qualified majority in the Council of the European Union requires the support of 15 of the 27 members, as long as they represent at least 65% of the votes. The total population of the European Union. Hungary emphasizes the importance of the need for consensus in “protecting national interests”.
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