Countries opposing the EU reform but seeking Ukraine’s accession to the EU will soon realise that they have to agree with the adjustment of EU’s decision-making procedures as changes are not possible before the 2024 EU elections, Czech expert Jan Kovář, deputy director of research at the Institute of International Relations, told Euractiv.cz.
Czechia is one of the countries saying that the EU reform and treaty changes are unnecessary. However, it is also a strong supporter of EU enlargement. “Czechia, too will have to understand that the combination of the two is inevitable,” the Czech expert said.
As the EU is likely to enlarge soon, voting in the Council will have to change. In particular, there is discussion about moving to qualified majority voting on common and security policy issues currently decided unanimously.
“Sooner or later, countries opposing reforms will have to step back and extend qualified majority voting in common foreign and security policy, otherwise, there will be no big extension. Maybe one or two small states can join, but it certainly will not be Ukraine,” he said.
According to Kovář, changes could be done through the passerelle clause, which allows changing the decision-making system from unanimity to a qualified majority without EU treaty changes.
However, this will not happen before the European elections in 2024 as activating the passerelle clause requires unanimous agreement at the European Council. “I do not think that there is a consensus now that it needs to be done,” the Czech expert said.
Regarding EU enlargement, Kovář thinks it is realistic that a few small Western Balkan countries would join the EU by 2030. “A large number of member states see enlargement as a geopolitical and strategic necessity, which has not been the case in the past,” he said.
While activation of the passerelle clause is likely in the future, there is no willingness from member states to undergo deeper EU reforms and open the treaties. However, the Czech expert also emphasised that it is possible to amend the EU treaties through an accession treaty with a new member state.
According to the EU law, it is possible to make changes that are linked to enlargement, but this rule could be interpreted widely, and it could even open the possibility of strengthening EU competencies.
“Weighting of votes in the Council of the EU and change in the calculation of qualified majority can also be done by the accession treaty, as there could be a need to ensure that new small states are not usurped by larger ones,” Kovář explained.
(Kateřina Zichová, Aneta Zachová | Euractiv.cz)
Read more with EURACTIV
Tusk organises another opposition march ahead of elections
Source: euractiv.com
