The initiative that may greatly worry Israel: 11 EU countries demand to cancel the veto right in foreign policy

More than a third of EU countries are demanding to change the decision-making process in foreign policy. Germany and France are leading the move, which is intended to break the veto right of individual countries that often blocks critical decisions. Thus, Israel will no longer be able to rely on the veto of a single member state, such as Hungary or the Czech Republic. The promoters of the move argue that the need for consensus has led to damage to the values and interests of the EU.

A move taking shape in the EU may significantly change the way decisions are made in the bloc's foreign policy, and it could greatly worry Israel. 11 EU countries have joined together and are calling to examine a transition from the current system, where foreign policy decisions are made unanimously, to voting by qualified majority.

The meaning of such a change is that it is possible that in the future, one country will no longer be able to stop a decision of the rest of the EU members on its own. Today, in the field of foreign policy, each of the 27 countries can use its veto right and prevent a decision. The countries promoting the initiative argue that the use of the veto in recent years has often paralyzed the EU's activity in the international arena.

The letter calling for change was signed by Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, and Sweden. Germany, the largest country in the EU, is leading the calls to change the decision-making method.

In a letter sent to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, and revealed by Euronews, the countries acknowledge that consensus between countries is an important source of the EU's legitimacy. However, they argue that consensus must allow for joint action and not become a tool that paralyzes the union's activity.

"The EU's culture based on consensus is an important source of its legitimacy," the countries wrote, but added that if the culture of consensus prevents joint action, the EU may remain with legitimacy, but without real power.

A great danger for Israel?

The issue may be particularly relevant to Israel because the debate on European foreign policy also touches on issues related to it. The Euronews report notes that Germany, for example, opposes the use of the unanimous consent requirement regarding trade with Israeli settlements.

Germany is one of Israel's most important allies in the EU, but recently criticism in Berlin of the conduct of the government in Israel has been growing. In recent weeks, senior German officials have called for promoting exceptional sanctions against the Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, partly due to his statements regarding the situation in Gaza.

In the case of a transition to voting by qualified majority, the possibility of a single country to stop decisions, for example, imposing sanctions, through a veto will be greatly reduced. However, the report does not state that changing the system will necessarily lead to new decisions against Israel, but presents the possibility of a change in the way the EU makes decisions.

For years, Israel has enjoyed diplomatic immunity in the EU. At first, it was the government of Viktor Orbán in Hungary that promised to block decisions against Israel, and perhaps today it is the government in the Czech Republic that has promised to replace the Orbán government as the automatic veto in favor of Israel.

---

Putting an end to the veto that paralyzes the EU

The current initiative comes after years in which countries in the EU dealt with cases where one country used the veto right to prevent decisions supported by the rest of the countries. A prominent example mentioned in the report is that of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, in the context of Ukraine. During his 16 years in office, he repeatedly used the veto right to obtain concessions and promote Hungary's interests.

Earlier this year, he even blocked a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine, which EU leaders had agreed upon, following a separate dispute with Kyiv related to the Druzhba oil pipeline. This case contributed to the argument of the reform supporters that the EU needs a mechanism that will prevent one country from paralyzing decisions of the entire bloc.

The 11 countries present five principles that they believe should guide the EU's foreign policy. Among other things, they call for strengthening the principles of good faith cooperation and mutual solidarity, increasing the use of constructive abstention from voting instead of a veto, and avoiding linking foreign policy decisions to issues that are not substantively related to them.

The big obstacle: to cancel the veto, you need everyone's consent

One of the main difficulties in the move is that it is a kind of catch-22. The transition clause in the EU treaties allows for examining a transition from unanimous voting to qualified majority voting, but the transition itself requires unanimous consent.

That is, the countries that want to cancel the possibility of a single country to block decisions actually need the consent of all countries, including those that might lose their veto power. Therefore, the 11 countries are calling for significant consultations in case of disagreement, with the aim of reaching a compromise.

Not all EU countries support the move

The initiative does not currently have the support of all EU countries. The report notes that none of the three Baltic states - Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania - signed the letter.

Opponents of the change argue that a transition to qualified majority voting could harm the democratic legitimacy of EU decisions. Smaller countries see the veto right as an important tool that allows them to protect their positions and interests against the large countries in the bloc.

Window of opportunity after Orbán's defeat

The push for change has strengthened after Orbán's defeat. According to Euronews, many factors in Europe see this as a significant window of opportunity to change the decision-making rules in the EU. This window may close if Marine Le Pen, who holds Euro-skeptic positions, wins the French presidential election in May.

At the same time, Germany and France have proposed a plan to strengthen the status of Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, but at the same time to subject her to the direct supervision of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

If the move to transition from unanimous voting to qualified majority does indeed progress, it may change the balance of power within the EU regarding foreign policy. For Israel, the possible meaning is that it will be much more exposed to sanctions and harsh actions against it. If until today it was possible to prevent such moves through political investment in a limited number of allies, if the situation changes - that will no longer be enough.