German international minister Annalena Baerbock earlier this week urged members of the European Union to stay united on points and stated selections can’t be vetoed by particular person member states.

“We must be capable of acting efficiently and swiftly. I strongly believe that we have to get better in terms of the speed of our decision-making in the European Union, especially when it comes to foreign policy matters,” Baerbock stated.

“We sometimes have situations where we as the European Union want to act, but unfortunately are not even capable of drafting a press release because we don’t agree on 100% of the wording. Therefore, I suggest that we make better use of the possibilities the EU treaties give us already today,” Baerbock additional added.

Her feedback got here throughout her go to to Lisbon the place she met her Portuguese counterpart João Cravinho and attended the Portuguese Ambassador Conference.

What is EU’s Qualified Majority Voting System?

Baerbock then steered that EU members make use of the certified majority voting in a extra environment friendly method.

Qualified majority voting is the commonest voting methodology utilized by the Council of the European Union. Two circumstances have to be concurrently met to attain a certified majority.

If 15 out of 27 member states vote in favour, that’s 55% of EU, and the proposal is supported by member states representing not less than 65% of the entire EU inhabitants, a certified majority is met.

Baerbock stated that there are issues concerning the certified majority voting system, as a result of regardless of being a grouping of countries, particular person member states may have numerous views on a specific concern.

“We recently set up a training mission for Ukrainian soldiers, a decision that required unanimity. After a long discussion, Hungary decided on a “constructive abstention”, permitting the others to go forward. We need to construct on such pragmatic options in order that, because the EU, we are able to stay up to our duty as a powerful international actor,” the German international minister stated.

Baerbock’s feedback come within the wake of the continued struggle in Ukraine and the Covid-19 outbreak in China. She stated the EU wanted a united response to China’s unprecedented wave of infections.

Baerbock stated constructive abstentions or the passerelle clause that’s already supplied for within the treaties, or the certified majority voting in particular, particularly outlined coverage fields similar to climate-related questions, sanctions or human rights should be used to reinforce that the EU has a bigger function to play in international affairs.

However, Poland’s Law and Justice Party secretary basic, Krzysztof Sobolewski, disagreed and stated so long as the occasion is in energy they may guarantee there isn’t a departure from the veto precept within the EU.

“The Polish government will not agree to any changes regarding EU law that would reduce the powers of member states when it comes to the veto,” the Law and Justice Party spokesperson Piotr Mueller stated.

Hungary additionally stated that Baerbock’s ideas, if utilized, can threaten the bloc’s effectiveness and unity.

(with inputs from Hungary Today, Reuters and the First News)

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