In a keynote address at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Berlin on Wednesday, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul made a forceful case for abolishing the European Union's unanimity requirement in key policy areas. He argued that replacing the current veto system with qualified majority voting would end the bloc's frequent decision-making paralysis.
“Under our leadership, twelve member states have already come together to bring about this change,” Wadephul said, pointing to repeated obstruction by Hungary under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as a catalyst for reform. The most recent example came when Budapest blocked a €90 billion loan for Ukraine, a move that was only reversed after Orbán's electoral defeat by Péter Magyar on 12 April. “We could see it last week when funds were released,” Wadephul noted. “It only takes the deviation of a few or even individuals to block the actions of all.”
Qualified Majority as a Path Forward
Wadephul stressed that unanimity should remain the ideal, but that qualified majority voting—requiring support from 55% of member states representing 65% of the EU's population—would make consensus “significantly” easier. “A qualified majority could make the EU capable of acting in areas where it currently has to remain at a standstill,” he said. The proposal would effectively strip any single member state of its veto power over major decisions, a change that has been debated for years but gained urgency amid Hungary's repeated blockades.
The foreign minister also advocated for “enhanced cooperation” among smaller groups of countries when full EU consensus is unattainable. This principle, he argued, should extend to the Common Foreign and Security Policy, allowing willing member states to move forward without being held back by reluctant peers.
Conditionality and Institutional Reform
Wadephul called for sweeping reforms to the allocation of EU funds, insisting on a stronger “conditionality mechanism.” “EU funds must not go to those who violate our common values,” he declared, referencing the bloc's decision to freeze funding for Hungary over concerns about judicial independence and minority rights. The new Hungarian government under Péter Magyar is now negotiating with Brussels to unlock those funds, with talks expected to conclude on 25 May.
On institutional efficiency, Wadephul floated the idea of a smaller European Commission, with commissioners from only two-thirds of member states, and changes to the composition of the European Parliament. “We are already seeing at national level the challenges that come with an oversized parliament,” he said. These proposals mirror demands from Germany's conservative CDU/CSU bloc, which has urged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to make the EU leaner and more efficient.
Gradual Enlargement and Transatlantic Trust
On enlargement, Wadephul argued for a phased approach to accession, particularly for Western Balkan candidates. While he did not explicitly mention Ukraine, the idea of a limited or “EU-lite” membership for Kyiv has been discussed in recent years. A gradual process, he said, could help overcome resistance from existing member states wary of rapid expansion.
Addressing transatlantic relations, Wadephul expressed confidence in the alliance with the United States, despite recent tensions over troop withdrawals. “Nothing happening at the moment undermines my fundamental trust,” he said, noting that during visits to Washington he had met numerous decision-makers with strong pro-transatlantic views. “We should not start questioning things that nobody in Washington is questioning—not even the US president.”
The foreign minister also highlighted the European single market as one of the world's three largest, and argued that a single market for defence equipment could significantly boost cooperation on planning, development, and procurement across Europe. This push for efficiency comes as Germany faces its own economic challenges, with figures like Reinhold Würth warning of a post-war golden era ending and the risk of deindustrialisation.
Wadephul's speech signals a determined German effort to reshape EU decision-making, leveraging the bloc's recent experience with Hungarian obstruction to push for structural change. Whether the remaining fifteen member states will back the reform remains uncertain, but the debate over unanimity is now firmly on the table.
