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Georgia: Abolishing the Veto Makes the EU Indifferent to Small States
🇬🇷 Greece /Elections & Politics

Georgia: Abolishing the Veto Makes the EU Indifferent to Small States

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Georgia's Parliament Speaker, Shalva Papuashvili, expressed concerns that abolishing the EU's unanimity principle in decision-making would make the bloc unattractive to smaller states.
  • He warned that a shift to majority voting, proposed by Germany, could lead to smaller member states losing national sovereignty and being dominated by larger countries.
  • Georgia, an EU candidate country, faces a stalled accession path due to controversial legislation, including the "foreign agents" law and restrictions on LGBTQ+ propaganda.

Georgia's Parliament Speaker, Shalva Papuashvili, has voiced significant concerns about the future of the European Union, particularly regarding its enlargement process. He argues that the proposed abolition of the unanimity principle in decision-making would strip the European project of its appeal for smaller nations.

the proposed abolition of the undisputed principle of unanimity (consensus) in decision-making will remove any attractiveness from the European edifice for smaller states.

— Shalva PapuashviliExpressing concerns about the impact of changing EU decision-making processes on smaller nations.

Papuashvili commented on Germany's proposal to transition to a majority voting system, asserting that such a reform would result in smaller member states facing "almost complete loss of national sovereignty." He believes they would lack the necessary mechanisms to defend their vital interests when they conflict with the desires of the majority.

The Georgian official warned that adopting the German initiative would transform the EU into a union dominated by its largest countries, disrupting the political balance and undermining the alliance's fundamental values. Under such circumstances, Papuashvili suggested, it might be more preferable for several smaller nations to remain outside the bloc, thereby preserving their decision-making independence.

such a reform would lead small member states to 'almost complete loss of national sovereignty,' as they would no longer have the necessary mechanisms to defend their vital interests when they clash with the desires of the majority.

— Shalva PapuashviliWarning about the potential consequences of adopting majority voting in the EU.

Georgia holds the status of an EU candidate country, but its accession path is currently stalled. Brussels has frozen negotiations with Tbilisi since 2024, citing controversial legislation passed by the Georgian parliament. These include the "transparency of foreign financing" law, commonly known as the "foreign agents" law, and restrictions on "LGBTQI+ propaganda," both of which have drawn strong reactions from the European Union.

under these conditions, it may prove preferable for several small countries to remain outside the bloc, at least maintaining their independence in decision-making.

— Shalva PapuashviliSuggesting an alternative for smaller nations if the EU shifts to majority rule.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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