German Foreign Minister Proposes Several Reforms In The EU
- 6.05.2026, 22:54
The EU needs to be more resilient and able to act.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful has proposed reforming a number of processes in the European Union to make it more resilient to crises. Voting processes in the EU need to be accelerated and simplified, especially in the areas of foreign and security policy, he said Wednesday, May 6, in Berlin, speaking at an event organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. "The EU must change, and change dramatically," the German foreign minister is convinced.
He said it is important for the EU to speed up decision-making by voting with a qualified majority. Another tool is the possibility of different initiatives of part of the EU countries in cases where "not all 27 member states can be in full agreement" with each other, DW reports.
The principle of consent of all member states currently applies in the areas of foreign and security policy in the EU. "However, in security matters, the principle of unanimity could jeopardize our existence," Wadeful said confidently. He recalled the months-long conflict over the allocation of a large-scale loan to Ukraine, without mentioning Hungary, which blocked the decision.
States that are unwilling or unable to participate in common decisions should not prevent those who want to move forward, the German minister said. He pointed out that the EU's founding treaties already provide for such possibilities, in particular the instrument of permanent structured cooperation. There are already successful examples of its application in the defense sector. "Our goal remains to achieve the greatest possible unity among all 27 member states," the German minister added.
German Foreign Minister proposed a phased admission of new countries to the EU
In addition, Wadeful proposed to change the procedure for the admission of new members to the EU and make it phased. It is a question of gradual integration in separate stages up to full membership. In this way, in his opinion, blocking accession decisions of individual countries by European governments can be avoided.
Wadeful reiterated Berlin's commitment to the goals of EU enlargement. "The peoples of the Western Balkans were given a European perspective decades ago. We are obliged to arrive at the results," he pointed out. The German Foreign Minister also mentioned the candidates for EU accession - Ukraine and Moldova. In addition, "more than desirable" is the expansion of the European Union through the accession of Iceland and Norway, he noted.
At the same time it is necessary to "reduce the fears of some member states about early full membership," Wadeful said. In particular, EU accession treaties could include provisions to provide European funding only under certain conditions. "EU funds should not go to those who violate our common values," he added.
The process of EU enlargement should go hand in hand with reforms within the EU itself. It is crucial that when new members are admitted, the institutions remain workable. Among other things, these issues include the number of European Commissioners and the size of the European Parliament, Wadeful explained.
The German minister said his proposals would help make the European Union "more sustainable and capable of action." "I consider the whole situation urgent," he stated. According to Wadeful, the success of these reforms is a matter of survival for the European Union. "We have to act faster. The world is moving faster. It demands answers," the German foreign minister added.