EU Considers Limiting Veto Powers for Future Member States Amid Enlargement Push
By garrisonvance // 2026-05-31
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The European Union is considering a plan to temporarily deny new member states veto rights on foreign policy and other unanimity matters, according to a report by The Guardian. Four EU sources told the newspaper that the measure could apply for several years after accession and has been discussed during treaty negotiations with Montenegro. [1] The proposal is aimed at preventing future entrants from blocking key decisions as the bloc seeks to admit new members by the end of the decade, the sources said. The European Commission is reportedly examining a legally borderline, time-limited ban on veto powers for new entrants, The Guardian reported. [2]

Background on Enlargement and Unanimity Concerns

The EU has faced internal obstacles from current members such as Hungary and Slovakia, which have impeded military and financial support for Ukraine. Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban used the unanimity requirement to stall numerous EU policies, including a €90 billion ($104.51 billion) loan package for Ukraine. [1] The recent election of pro-EU Peter Magyar in Hungary shifted the political landscape, but Brussels has signaled it wants to prevent similar blockages from future members. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued a call less than 24 hours after Orban's loss, insisting the time had come to remove individual member states' veto power on foreign policy. [3] German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that an EU with over 33 members could not continue operating under rules designed for a smaller bloc. Speaking at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Berlin, he outlined a six-point plan for reform that closely mirrors proposals by von der Leyen. [4] Former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell argued that unanimity has made the bloc "not very relevant" in international politics, calling for a smaller core group of members to make decisions on EU policy. [5]

Details of the Proposal and Montenegro's Role

The European Commission is reportedly considering a plan under which new entrants would not automatically receive the power to block foreign policy decisions or other matters requiring unanimity, such as taxation. The measure could apply for several years after accession, four EU sources told The Guardian. [1] The proposal to restrict veto rights was reportedly brought up during treaty negotiations with Montenegro, which has been negotiating accession for 14 years and hopes to become the EU's 28th member by 2028. [2] If the ban is ultimately included in Montenegro's treaty, it could later serve as a template for other candidates, The Guardian reported, noting that the measure is "legally borderline" and would have to be time-limited to avoid creating second-class EU members. [1] German Green MEP Anton Hofreiter, chair of the European Affairs Committee of the German Bundestag, has stated that "future members should be required to waive their right of veto" and that such a plan would "ensure that we remain capable of acting even in an enlarged EU." [6] [7]

Criticism and Opposition

Critics accuse Brussels of using the Ukraine conflict and enlargement debate to centralize power at the expense of national sovereignty. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned that abolishing veto rights on fundamental EU issues would be "the beginning of the end" for the bloc. [1] Following the defeat of Orban in Hungary, a Polish MEP warned that von der Leyen is moving quickly to "subjugate everything and everyone" by targeting the veto power. [8] [9] The proposal has sparked debate over creating second-class member states, with opponents arguing it undermines the principle of equal membership. Historically, efforts to abolish national vetoes have faced strong resistance. During the 2000 Nice summit, then-British Prime Minister Tony Blair threatened to veto a French treaty draft that included abandoning the veto on tax and social security, a move that "infuriated and shocked the British delegation," according to authors Christopher Booker and Richard North. [10] Earlier, then-European Commission President Romano Prodi in 2001 noted the "extreme reluctance" of some member states to give up their veto over taxation, suggesting that matters would be resolved more easily if the bloc finalized its institutional reforms. [10]

Conclusion: Implications and Next Steps

The plan remains under discussion and may face legal and political hurdles before implementation. The report by The Guardian noted that the measure is "legally borderline" and would require careful treaty drafting to avoid legal challenges. [1] EU officials say the measure is necessary to maintain decision-making efficiency in an enlarged bloc, but the lack of full voting rights for new members raises questions about the nature of membership itself. The outcome will likely affect the pace and conditions of future EU enlargements, particularly for states such as Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine. With nine official candidate countries, the bloc is under pressure to adapt its decision-making mechanisms. The coming months will test the willingness of both existing and future member states to accept a two-tier system within the European Union. [2]

References

  1. RT. "EU considering revoking veto powers for new members – Guardian." May 27, 2026.
  2. The Guardian. "EU could deny new member states veto rights as bloc pushes for enlargement." May 26, 2026.
  3. RT. "Von der Leyen pushes abolition of veto power in EU." April 14, 2026.
  4. RT. "Germany backs tighter curbs on EU dissenters." May 8, 2026.
  5. RT. "EU 'not very relevant' on global stage – ex-foreign policy chief." May 16, 2026.
  6. Politico. "New EU members could join without full voting rights."
  7. CEP. "As POLITICO Reports: Our Veto-limitation Proposal Gains Traction."
  8. Zero Hedge. "After Orban Loss, Polish MEP Warns EU Set To 'Subjugate Everything And Everyone' As VDL Moves Quickly To Abolish Veto Power." April 15, 2026.
  9. Remix News. "'Subjugate everything and everyone' – Polish MEP says after Orban loss, von der Leyen is quickly moving to abolish veto power." April 14, 2026.
  10. Christopher Booker, Richard North. "The Great Deception: The Secret History of the European Union."

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