Romania Demands EU Voting Reform to Fast-Track Ukraine and Moldova Membership
Romania is leading a charge for a significant overhaul of the European Union’s core decision-making processes to unblock the stalled membership bids of Ukraine and Moldova. Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu has publicly called for an end to the system that allows a single country to halt enlargement, labeling it “irresponsible” and a threat to the EU’s strategic interests.
The central issue is the requirement for unanimous agreement among all 27 member states to advance accession talks. This rule has enabled Hungary to veto the opening of negotiations with Ukraine. Because Ukraine and Moldova’s accession paths are linked, this single veto has also stalled Moldova’s progress.
“It is clearly a problem that we have for ourselves if the will of twenty-six countries is blocked irresponsibly just by one single vote,” Țoiu stated in an interview with Euronews. She argued that it is unfair to punish candidate countries for internal EU procedural disputes, especially when nations like Ukraine and Moldova have made significant progress on their reform agendas.
The Solution: Qualified Majority Voting for Accession Talks
To break the political logjam, a major reform proposal is gaining traction: replacing unanimity with qualified majority voting (QMV) for specific stages of the accession process.
The proposal, championed by European Council President António Costa, would apply to the opening of “negotiating clusters.” These are thematic groups of policy chapters, such as justice, security, and public procurement. Under the new system, a cluster could advance if supported by approximately 15 member states representing at least 65% of the EU population, rather than requiring all 27 to agree.
While Minister Țoiu did not issue an unqualified endorsement of Costa’s specific model, she firmly supported the principle, emphasizing the urgent need for a system that reflects the majority will and prevents single-member blockades.
The High Stakes of the Enlargement Debate
The push for reform comes ahead of a critical EU summit in Brussels, where the future of enlargement will be a top agenda item. The debate is charged with geopolitical significance, extending far beyond procedural technicalities.
Hungary has justified its veto by citing the ongoing conflict with Russia, energy security concerns, and issues related to the Hungarian minority in Ukraine. However, critics and observers contend that these reasons obscure deeper political motivations aligned with Moscow’s interests.
Analysts warn that prolonging the accession process for Ukraine and Moldova carries severe strategic costs. Delay risks fueling anti-EU sentiment within the candidate countries and creates a vacuum that external actors, namely Russia, could exploit to expand their influence. A swift and merit-based process is increasingly seen as a vital component of the EU’s own security strategy.
A Call for a Merit-Based Path Forward
The core of Romania’s argument is that the EU’s credibility is on the line. Țoiu stressed that decisions must be based on the actual merits and reforms achieved by candidate countries, not held hostage by political vetoes.
Draft conclusions for the upcoming summit reportedly encourage advancing Moldova’s accession based on its progress. However, they notably avoid explicitly endorsing the fundamental voting reform that Romania and others are advocating.
Conclusion: A Pivotal Moment for the EU
Romania’s campaign highlights a pivotal moment for the European Union. The call to reform EU decision-making rules is a direct response to the geopolitical urgency created by Russia’s war in Ukraine. By advocating for qualified majority voting on enlargement, Romania and its allies are pushing the bloc to adapt its institutions to modern challenges, ensuring it can act decisively to uphold its values and strategic goals. The outcome of this debate will determine whether the EU can remain a credible and effective force for stability and democracy on the continent.
