The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, estimated on Monday 29 August that the European Union (EU) should gradually move from the rule of unanimity to that of the majority in the areas of taxation and foreign affairs, an evolution unavoidable in view of the enlargement of the bloc to new members.
In a speech entitled “Europe is our future”, delivered Monday in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, Olaf Scholz reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to EU enlargement, stressing that the Balkan countries western countries, but also Ukraine and Moldova as well as Georgia, in the long term, were destined to join the EU.
Mr Scholz went so far as to mention “a European Union of 30 or 36 States”good “different from our current Union”. “The center of Europe is moving east”he estimated.
Gradual transition
However, “in this enlarged Union, the differences between the Member States will increase with regard to political interests, economic influence and social security systems”observed the German Chancellor. “While unanimity is required today, the risk of a single member state using its veto and preventing all the others from moving forward increases with each new entrant into the bloc”he pointed out.
“I have therefore proposed a gradual transition to majority voting for the common foreign policy, but also in other areas, such as fiscal policy – knowing full well that such a development will not be without consequences for Germany »said Olaf Scholz.
For him, “sticking to the principle of unanimity only works as long as the pressure to act is weak. But this is no longer the case in view of the change of era. caused, according to him, by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Majority voting could first be implemented in areas, “where it is particularly crucial that Europe speaks with one voice”such as decisions on sanctions or human rights issues.
Olaf Scholz also reaffirmed his support for the proposal by the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, to create a “European political community” which would allow “a regular exchange at the political level” between EU leaders and their “European partners”.
Within this new forum, “we would discuss once or twice a year the central themes that concern our continent as a whole: security, energy, climate or connectivity”argued the German Chancellor.