Polish policy in the EU will be aimed at vigorously defending the principle of unanimity. Neither now nor in the future, Poland is not considering the possibility of relinquishing rights arising from unanimous decision-making on the common foreign, security and defense policy, the foreign ministry said on Sunday.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the unanimity rule in the EU
As we read in the statement signed by Ministry spokesman Łukasz Jasina, these are “proposals emerging in the political sphere to introduce a decision-making procedure by qualified majority on matters related to foreign and security policy of the European Union.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms the position recently taken by Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau in the Polish Parliament: Polish policy in the European Union will aim – in order to preserve the freedom of the Member States – to vigorously defend the principle of unanimity where the current legal status guarantees this, and to the de facto extension of the consensus formula where the legal status allows the use of the qualified majority rule
– emphasized.
What about the common foreign and security policy?
The State Department noted that “it notes that some member states are considering giving up rights resulting from unanimous decision-making on issues related to CFSP (Common Foreign and Security Policy – PAP) or CSDP (Common Security and Defense Policy – DAD). )”.
If there is a coordinated unilateral renunciation of these rights by these Member States or if moratoria are introduced on their non-use of veto rights in EU decision-making processes guaranteeing such a right, Poland will respect and understand these decisions
we are reading.
At the same time, Poland is not considering the possibility of taking such a decision now or in the future
reads the statement.
The document states that the decision-making process in the EU’s common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and common security and defense policy (CSDP) “is, as a rule, based on unanimity”.
Both this principle and the intergovernmental nature of the relevant policies safeguard the interests of all EU Member States and ensure that the voice of each of them counts, regardless of their size or population
we are reading.
They also ensure that all decisions on matters of war and peace fall within the sovereign rights of each member state
emphasized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In addition, the mechanism of constructive abstention allows all EU members to adhere to national specifics without blocking the decisions of the entire organization
– adds the Ministry of Diplomacy.
“The vital role of the unanimity rule has already saved Member States several times”
According to the State Department, “current rules of qualified majority voting, which for obvious reasons favor the interests of countries with a voting advantage, do not in any way guarantee more effective or faster achievement of the objectives of the foreign and security policy of the EU.”
It is the crucial role of the unanimity rule that has on several occasions saved Member States from making strategic mistakes with very negative consequences for the security of the EU
– we read in the statement.
The State Department emphasizes that “a particularly prominent example of this has recently been the highly controversial and, as recent experience shows, even dangerous decision to launch the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.”
If a qualified majority vote had taken place, this gas pipeline would not only have been built and commissioned more quickly, but would also not have been covered by safeguard clauses, such as the compromise amendments to the Gas Directive adopted in 2019.
we are reading.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, unanimity in the decision-making process ensured that “the actions of the EU in the context of CSDP did not undermine the cohesion of the whole Euro-Atlantic community” – because it prevented: “the duplication of the chain of command of the NATO through CSDP politico-military structures”; “adopting CSDP priorities that would conflict with NATO’s collective defense objectives” and “stimulating investment that would not benefit the entire European defense industry.”
“A more recent example of the foreseeable flaw in qualified majority voting was last year’s oil price cap negotiations.
Thanks to the unanimity rule, EU member states have adopted a sensible cap on the price of Russian oil shipped by sea, preventing Russia from further profiting from its war of aggression against Ukraine, while preserving stability in global energy markets
– we read in the statement.
An important decision-making mechanism
The Ministry of Diplomacy also reported that unanimity also continues to be an important decision-making mechanism in negotiating derogations regarding the export of fertilizer in the form of potash from Belarus, which is largely financed by the Lukashenko regime.
The State Department stressed that “when there is real political will, unanimity can provide a real balance between pursuing political interests and finding the right common denominator for action.”
And so – according to the ministry – thanks to the unanimity principle “all EU member states exceptionally quickly after the outbreak of war in Ukraine showed the political will to use the European Peace Facility” to provide equipment to the Ukrainian armed forces.
In addition, the EU has been able to “quickly set up three important new missions in recent months: EUMAM Ukraine, EUM Armenia and EUPM Moldova”.
Thanks to the unanimity rule, these missions are really firmly entrenched and contribute significantly to security and stability across Europe
– emphasized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The EU could have decided to launch a civilian CSDP mission with an executive mandate, EULEX Kosovo, without resolving the issue of recognition of Kosovo’s independence.
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aja/PAP
Source: wPolityce