MEP Jean-Paul Garraud (Patriots for Europe) has asked the European Commission whether it intends to abolish Member States' right to veto in sensitive areas such as foreign policy, taxation and defence, warning that such a move would force countries to implement decisions they rejected, including on matters affecting essential national interests. The written question, submitted on 3 July 2026, targets proposals to replace unanimity with qualified majority voting (QMV) in these fields, which Garraud argues would profoundly alter the balance between Member States and EU institutions.
first, whether the Commission wishes to end the veto and in which areas; second, a guarantee that no Member State will lose its veto without a formal treaty amendment and national ratification; and third, a request for a published study detailing the powers each Member State would lose and the decisions that could be imposed on them. The MEP's intervention reflects a sovereignty-focused critique of deeper EU integration, pitting national control against supranational efficiency. Proponents of QMV argue it would speed up decision-making and prevent a single country from blocking EU action on security or fiscal matters, while opponents warn it could override national parliaments and public opinion.
Under European Parliament rules, the Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal whether the executive is actively considering treaty change or merely exploring procedural adjustments, and whether it is willing to provide the impact assessment Garraud requests. The question touches on a long-running cleavage between EU integration and national sovereignty, with direct implications for national governments (which could lose veto power), EU institutions (which would gain decision-making speed), and citizens in smaller or dissenting Member States (who could see policies adopted against their government's will).