Abolition of unanimous decision-making undermines the sovereignty of member states

Today’s plenary session of the European Parliament held a debate on defending against abuses of the Member States’ right of veto. During the debate, MEP Kinga Gál, Chair of the Fidesz Delegation Group in the European Parliament, stressed that the very title of the debate reflects a bias: what the liberal mainstream misleadingly calls a veto is nothing other than unanimous decision-making, enshrined in the Treaties, which is the basis for good faith cooperation. It makes the possibility of different thinking and disagreement impossible and undermines European unity if the treaties are not respected to this extent.

“European integration was created by the member states; they are the masters of the treaties. It is no coincidence that the founding fathers of the Union demanded that the Member States retain the right to take decisions on matters that are important to them, with their consent alone,” said MEP Kinga Gál. “The abolition of unanimity decision-making would remove the sovereignty of the member states and would lead to an extension of centralisation in Brussels. The Union must not become a United States of Europe serving federal interests,” she stressed.

According to MEP Kinga Gál, the double standard set up in the European Union on the veto issue is unacceptable. “It is seriously hypocritical that while Hungary is being accused of destroying European unity and vetoing without justification, when it courageously stands up for its position and values, old member states can do so without consequences in much more serious matters. But these cases can only be called ‘lack of agreement’, never vetoes,” the MEP pointed out.