Part 6/11:
- Reforming the Council Veto System: The most contentious proposal involves shifting more decision-making from unanimity (where a single country can block proposals) to qualified majority voting (QMV). Currently, issues like foreign policy require unanimity, enabling persistent vetoes—most notably by Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, who has used it 18 times since 2011. Greater reliance on QMV aims to reduce systemic gridlock.
The Challenge of Treaty Change
Implementing these reforms necessitates changing EU treaties—a complex, multi-step process. The options are:
- A Constitutional Convention: A comprehensive rewrite akin to creating a new constitutional foundation for the EU, requiring unanimous approval from all member states. The last major rewrite was the Lisbon Treaty (2007–2009).