A new political initiative taking shape within the European Union (EU) could fundamentally change the bloc’s decision-making process on foreign policy matters and potentially have negative implications for Israel.
A group of 11 EU member states has joined forces to promote a shift away from the current requirement for the unanimous approval of all 27 member states toward a qualified-majority voting system.
The proposal would limit the ability of a single member state to veto decisions supported by the rest of the bloc. The countries behind the initiative argue that the frequent use of veto power in recent years has repeatedly paralyzed the EU’s ability to act on the global stage.
A letter calling for the change was drafted and signed by representatives of Germany, which is leading the initiative, along with Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain and Sweden.
The proposal has drawn particular attention in Israel because the EU’s foreign policy decisions directly affect issues involving Jerusalem. Germany, according to reports, has opposed maintaining the unanimity requirement on matters related to trade with Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria.
If the change is approved, the ability of a single member state to block measures such as sanctions would be significantly reduced.
The initiative does not predetermine the adoption of measures against Israel, but it could challenge a situation in which Israel has benefited over the years from the backing of friendly EU member states, such as Hungary in the past and the Czech Republic today.