The European Commission is reportedly considering a major shift in its approach to implementing and renewing sanctions against Russia, with the goal of overcoming Hungary’s persistent resistance. Current EU regulations require unanimous agreement among member states before any new sanctions measures can be enacted. However, Hungary’s objections have repeatedly blocked progress on proposed sanctions packages, prompting discussions about changing the voting mechanism.
The proposed reform would transition the EU from a system requiring complete consensus to one that adopts a qualified majority voting system. Under this system, the majority of member states, rather than all, would need to approve sanctions renewal. This change could enable the EU to implement economic measures against Russia more swiftly, particularly in light of ongoing tensions between the bloc and Moscow. While Hungary’s stance remains a key point of contention, the commission’s proposal represents a potential breakthrough in the EU’s ability to enforce unified sanctions policy.