It would be harmful if a member state tried to leverage pressure against the rest of the European Union and its candidate countries, President Andrzej Duda remarked in response to the recent remarks by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Scholz had spoken to the European Parliament about the need to reform the voting system in the EU Council so that decisions could be adopted by qualified majority rather than unanimity.
The aim, as articulated by Scholz, is to secure more EU Council decisions through qualified majority voting, including in foreign and fiscal policy. He expressed a commitment to persuading fellow council members to endorse this approach. For skeptics, he cautioned that unanimity does not represent perfect consensus or universal support for every decision. Rather, the strength of democracy lies in the ongoing effort to build majorities and form coalitions. The process should acknowledge and incorporate minority interests, aligning with the core principles of liberal democracy.
Scholz also elaborated on how he views reform within the Union and reiterated that Berlin’s stance on European expansion is linked to progress on this reform. During a press conference in the Albanian capital, Duda noted that Scholz had asked him about the ongoing debates and doubts surrounding decision-making within the EU. He stressed that German authorities, led by the chancellor, are keenly aware of these discussions.
Blackmail against the community
It would be unfortunate if any member state attempted to pressure the rest of the community and the EU’s applicant countries by threatening to block accession processes if its demands were not met, Duda argued. Such tactics, he warned, would run counter to the interests of the entire European community. In light of Brexit, the admission of new member states remains a vital sign of the Union’s vitality and attractiveness.
The goal, according to Duda, is to demonstrate to both the peoples of the Union and the wider world that the EU is a living, growing, and ambitious project. He emphasized that principled behavior matters: if the Union’s demands or calls for leadership within the bloc are not satisfied, there should be no automatic agreement to admit new member states, as this would undermine the Union’s broader interests.
Duda underscored that the European Union is founded on fraternal cooperation among nations, a framework meant to bring peace and strong economic development to Europe. This spirit of cooperation is intended to ensure that member states have a voice in the most significant decisions and in the evolution of the Union, so that justice and balance prevail within the European community. It is essential that no state imposes its interests at the expense of others, especially when existing institutional tools are available to safeguard collective interests.
In this context, the Polish president reiterated the value of shared decision making that respects both unity and diversity within the European family. He argued that cooperation should empower member states to shape the Union’s future together, rather than allowing any single nation to dominate the agenda at the expense of others. The broader objective is a robust and inclusive Union that remains open to new members while preserving the democratic legitimacy that comes from broad-based consensus.
From the perspective of European policy, the discussions surrounding reform touch on how the Union balances efficiency with accountability. Qualified majority voting would expedite decision making in key areas while still requiring alliances and negotiation across the bloc. The emphasis is on building durable coalitions that reflect a broad spectrum of national interests, coupled with a commitment to shared European values. This approach aims to strengthen the Union’s resilience, especially in the face of external challenges and internal debates about enlargement and policy direction.
Ultimately, the questions at the heart of these debates revolve around how best to preserve democratic legitimacy while safeguarding the Union’s capacity to act decisively. The interplay between national interests and collective goals remains central to the conversation about Europe’s future, and leaders across member states are called to engage in constructive dialogue that advances common interests without sidelining the concerns of smaller voices within the Union.