Germany Calls for Ending Unanimity Principle in EU Decision-Making

Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has called on the European Union to abandon its unanimity principle in foreign and security policy before the end of the current legislative term.

Speaking to the Funke Media Group, as cited by the DPA news agency, Wadephul stated that abolishing unanimity would allow the EU to act more effectively on the international stage and become “truly grown-up” in its foreign policy decisions.

We should abolish the unanimity principle in the EU in foreign and security policy before the end of the current legislative period so as to be better capable of acting internationally and to be truly grown-up.

Johann Wadephul, German Foreign Minister

Wadephul cited Hungary’s blockade of a €90 billion EU-backed loan for Ukraine as a clear example of how the unanimity rule undermines the bloc’s effectiveness. The loan, approved in late 2025, remains inaccessible to Ukraine due to Hungary’s veto, which is tied to demands for the restoration of Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline.

Hungary accuses Ukraine of deliberately halting the oil flow, while Kyiv maintains the disruption resulted from a Russian strike and has rejected calls for inspections. The dispute has created a political impasse within the EU, delaying critical funding for Ukraine’s defense and drone production capabilities.

The German Foreign Minister emphasized that recent experiences with aid for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia demonstrate the need for reform. He expressed support for shifting to qualified majority voting among the EU’s 27 member states, which would allow decisions to be made without requiring unanimous consent.

Wadephul noted that Hungary’s looming April 12 general elections mean it is up to Hungarians to choose their government, and Germany would work with any administration that emerges from the vote. He did not link the reform proposal directly to the election outcome.

The unanimity principle currently requires all member states to agree on foreign and security policy decisions, giving any single country the power to veto collective action. Wadephul argued that this system has become a major obstacle to EU unity and credibility in global affairs.