Goci Says EU Must Abolish the Veto and Reform Governance

Secretary General of the European Democratic Party Sandro Goci said that Europe must abolish the right of veto and reform governance in order to strengthen itself, complete enlargement, and act more decisively on the world stage.

Goci said that the Greek veto on the new package of sanctions against Russia once again showed that the problem was never just (former Hungarian Prime Minister) Viktor Orban.

“Leaders change, but the blackmail of unanimity remains. Today it is Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Tomorrow it will be someone else,” Goci emphasized in a statement published on the website of the European Democratic Party.

Goci, who is also an MEP from the Renew Europe group, said that more and more governments are seeking national exemptions to protect individual sectors or companies, and as a result, every important European decision becomes a “market of exemptions, delays, and vetoes” while Russia gains valuable time.

“Europe cannot claim to be a geopolitical power if the foreign policy of 450 million citizens can be paralyzed by a single government,” Goci said.

He assessed that as long as unanimity persists, the EU will continue to lack the speed, credibility, and strategic capacity needed to defend its security, support Ukraine, and protect the interests of the Union.

Goci said that some still present the reform of the EU Treaties as an abstract federalist ambition and defend the status quo as “pragmatism.” According to him, this is wrong, and the real pragmatists in today’s Europe are those who understand that without reforms, nothing meaningful will be possible.

Goci assessed that the EU cannot build a stronger Europe, complete enlargement, strengthen common defense, or act decisively on the world stage with institutions designed for another era.

“Enough hypocrisy. Enough fear. Enough false caution. The veto must go. Europe must finally reform governance because without reform there will be no effective European action,” Goci concluded.