Hungary's Orbán exit sparks calls to end EU unanimity veto rule
Hungary's long-serving Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has left office after 16 years, prompting renewed calls within the European Union to abolish the unanimity rule that grants each member state veto power over EU foreign policy decisions.
Orbán's government was known for frequently using this veto power to block or delay EU actions aligned with his illiberal agenda.
During Orbán's tenure, Hungary repeatedly prevented or postponed EU support to Ukraine, obstructed sanctions against war criminals and rights abusers, and diluted or blocked EU statements critical of allies such as Russia, Egypt, Georgia, China, and Israel.
This often undermined the EU's ability to present a unified stance on foreign policy issues.
The use of veto power by Hungary also affected the EU's position at the United Nations, where the bloc was sometimes unable to issue joint declarations due to Hungary's objections.
For example, in 2022, Hungary blocked EU leadership efforts for UN monitoring of Russia's human rights record, forcing other member states to present resolutions without Hungary's support.
The unanimity rule was originally established in the post-Cold War era, reflecting optimism about democratic consolidation and a shared commitment to human rights.
It was designed to protect national sovereignty by requiring consensus on foreign policy decisions.
The European External Action Service (EEAS), created in 2011, was tasked with coordinating EU foreign policy but not leading it, as each member state retained veto power.
However, this arrangement has increasingly been seen as problematic.
While the EU has managed to adopt targeted sanctions and accountability measures on countries such as Russia, Belarus, Myanmar, and Syria, the rise of governments with far-right or illiberal tendencies has made consensus more difficult.
This has led to compromises that weaken the EU's foreign policy positions.
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