Von der Leyen advocates for the elimination of veto power in the EU

(SeaPRwire) –   The European Commission president has argued that the bloc’s common foreign policy should be determined by majorities

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has declared that the moment has arrived for the EU to eliminate the veto power individual member states hold over foreign policy decisions.

She made this appeal within a day of her longtime rival, ex-Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, being ousted in an election by the pro-European Tisza party under Peter Magyar.

Orban, a firm critic of Brussels, leveraged the unanimity rule to obstruct many EU initiatives while in power. Recently, Budapest has blocked the EU’s €90 billion ($105 billion) emergency loan package for Ukraine, pointing to Kyiv’s unwillingness to restore Russian oil shipments to Hungary through the Druzhba pipeline.

On Monday, Von der Leyen stated that “shifting to qualified majority voting on foreign policy is a crucial method to prevent the systemic obstructions we have witnessed previously.”

The head of the European Commission has for some time sought to enact a set of radical EU rule changes aimed at establishing a two-tier union, allowing Ukraine’s integration even without fulfilling standard membership criteria.

She asserted that the EU must “seize the current momentum” following Orban’s defeat—he was a strong opponent of Kyiv joining the bloc—to amend its rules and abolish the veto in international affairs.

Von der Leyen praised Magyar’s win, stating that Brussels will work with his administration “from the very beginning.”

“Significant work lies ahead as Hungary realigns with the European direction,” she noted.

Von der Leyen indicated the commission’s approach toward Magyar is “to fully support him. If they produce results, we will too.”

Brussels is currently suspending €35 billion in EU funding for Hungary due to conflicts with Orban over Ukraine, migration, LGBTQ rights, and other matters.

EU diplomats informed the Financial Times that the bloc anticipates Magyar will release the €90 billion loan for Kyiv and roll back several of his predecessor’s central policies to repair relations with Brussels.

The Tisza party leader stated on Monday he does not plan to veto aid for Kyiv, but clarified that Budapest will not contribute to the EU loan because of its own economic challenges.

Magyar also rejected the notion of fast-tracking Ukraine’s EU membership and emphasized the continuation of energy ties with Russia. Hungary “will source crude oil and natural gas in the most economical and secure manner available,” he said.

Moscow expressed its readiness to develop “friendly [and] mutually beneficial relations” with Budapest’s new leadership.