Reining in the Enlargement Vetoes: The German-Slovenian Non-Paper Under Review
Reining in the Enlargement Vetoes: The German-Slovenian Non-Paper Under Review

Author(s): Strahinja Subotić, Filipa Cvetanova
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, EU-Approach / EU-Accession / EU-Development
Published by: Centar za evropske politike CEP
Keywords: EU enlargement; candidate countries; German-Slovenian non-paper
Summary/Abstract: Few aspects of EU enlargement policy have sparked as much debate as its decision-making procedure. Amid shifting geopolitical realities and an expanding pool of candidate countries, a growing number of think tanks and member states are advocating a shift from unanimity to qualified majority voting (QMV) as a way to reduce the risk of potential deadlocks. Under QMV, a decision can be adopted if supported by 55% of member states representing at least 65% of the EU population. The core argument is that requiring unanimity for all decisions – including those of a purely technical nature – creates uncertainty for candidate countries, who reasonably fear that the process may be misused by individual member states. This, in turn, undermines the credibility of the enlargement policy and weakens the Union itself over time. In light of these challenges, the German-Slovenian non-paper, submitted to the Council in 2024, has echoed the call for change. As efforts to build consensus around it continue, this paper takes the discussion further by exploring the practical implications of applying QMV to the enlargement policy – aiming to dispel the concerns of those still sceptical about its adoption.

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