The European Commission proposed to abolish the right of veto of EU countries in decisions on sanctions n

The European Commission proposed to abolish the right of veto of the EU member states in making decisions on sanctions, expansion and other issues. The initiative was presented by the European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos at the session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, reports The Guardian.

“We need to expand the number of areas where qualified majority voting is used so that one country can no longer block the necessary decisions. For example, this applies to sanctions, the fight against tax evasion, expansion, said Ms. Kos.

Marta Kos clarified that for the country’s admission to the EU, only decisions on the beginning of this process and its completion will be made unanimously. Interim decisions will be taken by majority vote. For the Commission’s initiative to come into force, it must be approved by the European Parliament and unanimously supported by the Council.

Under current rules, the consent of all 27 EU member states is required to make foreign policy decisions. In early September, Euronews reported that 11 EU countries had called for the abolition of the veto. According to the Guardian, it can only be canceled for countries that have recently joined the EU. The publication notes that the initiative may be associated with the decisions of Hungary under the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The country has vetoed some EU decisions, including a €90 billion aid package to Ukraine.