Germany and France, alongside nine other European Union member states, have put forward a proposal aimed at improving the efficiency of the EU’s decision-making processes concerning foreign and security policy. The letter, addressed to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, suggests five key mechanisms to streamline decision-making under the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Currently, CFSP decisions require unanimous approval from all member states, a rule that has frequently led to deadlocks, notably when veto powers have been exercised.
Germany has spearheaded calls to replace this unanimity requirement with qualified majority voting. While France and other members have historically opposed such a systemic change, the letter opens the discussion on wider qualified majority use without mandating an immediate overhaul. The signatories, which include Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain, also propose emphasizing “sincere cooperation”—respecting mutual obligations even if not strictly legally binding.
Furthermore, they suggest adopting “constructive abstention” over outright vetoes and prohibiting the linking of unrelated issues to block collective decisions. The document urges the High Representative to explore options, such as the “passerelle clause,” which could allow voting rules to change without amending the core EU treaties. The initiative also suggests that any state utilizing a veto for vital national reasons should provide a clear explanation.
These proposals are slated for discussion at upcoming informal talks among EU foreign ministers, where reforms to the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the role of member states in defining EU foreign policy are also on the agenda.
Topics: #foreign #germany #france
