Former European Council President Charles Michel has urged caution over any move to scrap unanimity in EU decision-making, warning the bloc should “think carefully” before watering down national veto powers.
Michel, who led the European Council from 2019 to 2024, said the “European dream” depends on collective agreement among all 27 member states.
“What is a bit frustrating for all those like me who are absolutely convinced that this project is more needed than ever, the European project, the European dream, the Europeans principles, the European values, the European coexistence… We know what we have to do, we know exactly what we has to do,” he said.
Safeguarding unity, however, as set out in EU treaties, remains “not easy to achieve”, Michel added.
“It seems difficult to take the urgent decisions that are needed,” he said.
“They’re observing that there are always good reasons to procrastinate. There are always good reasons to waste time, and that’s regrettable.”
His comments to Euronews’ Europe Today show comes after a post on social media platform X criticising European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for naming Türkiye alongside Russia and China, and alluding to Istanbul as a potential threat.
While he would not speak to this saga, he did speak about divisions within the EU, mainly driven by opposition from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. In recent months the Budapest politician has been criticised for maintaining his veto against a €90 billion loan for Ukraine and the EU’s 20th package of sanctions against Russia.
Both measures were eventually approved on Thursday after Orbán and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico withdrew their months-long objections.
Asked whether Orbán’s recent electoral defeat in Hungary could improve EU cohesion, Michel said he hoped future European Council meetings would be “more united” but suggested that the exit would not lead to more cohesion.
“Some in the European Council were hiding behind Viktor Orbán,” he said, adding that certain leaders share elements of his political stance, including on Ukraine. But he said “we should think carefully” before making a decision not to use unanimity anymore.
Michel stressed that the veto — enshrined in the Treaty of Lisbon — should be used only when vital national interests are at stake, warning against its misuse.
“Unanimity is a challenge, there is no doubt,” he said.
“But decisions to abandon it should not be taken lightly. If you stop trying to involve every country, you risk weakening the EU’s weight on the international stage.”
Ukraine applied to join the EU in 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion. However, accession talks have been repeatedly delayed due to vetoes from Budapest.
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has admitted that discussions are taking place on different levels regarding “various possible formats of Ukraine’s membership in the EU” if the full support from the 27 cannot be garnered.
However, the Ukrainian leader has rejected this notion, repeatedly stating he wants full membership for Ukraine — not “symbolic” membership.