European Council should 'think carefully' before removing unanimity, says Michel

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European Council should 'think carefully' before removing unanimity, says Michel  Former European Council President Charles Michel has told Euronews that some EU leaders “were hiding behind” Viktor Orbán, urging them to “fight against the abuse of veto rights”.  READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2026/04/24/european-council-should-think-carefully-before-removing-unanimity-says-michel  Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages

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00:00Thank you so much for joining us on Euronews. You've made a lot of headlines this week and it seems

00:06to me when I put together everything that you've said, there's a deep concern on your part about the future

00:11of the European Union, but also in a way the functioning of the institutions at the stage. Why?

00:17Good morning. Indeed, I think that the European Union is a priority and it has to be better in delivering

00:25for our citizens. And we know what we have to do. We have to deepen the scale market, we have

00:30to innovate more, we have to invest more in our common strategic priorities.

00:36But indeed, I think also that we have to ask ourselves if the regulation, the way we regulate is accurate.

00:45That's that. I'm observing that the precautionary principle, which was a good principle in the past, is becoming more and

00:51more a zero-risk principle.

00:53And the result is that we innovate less than outside of Europe. That's a concern, that's a problem, and I

00:59think we can do better.

01:00When you say you worry about the future of the European Union and you talk about decision-making too, the

01:08reason why things are not moving fast enough, is it because there's no vision or because the leadership is simply

01:13not up to speed? And I'm referring to the entire spectrum.

01:16Yeah, I don't want to blame anyone in particular, but I'm observing in recent years that in many parts of

01:24the world, there is a vision and there is the ability to make decisions and to implement the decisions that

01:29are made. Let me give you an example.

01:31The 30 report is on the table for a long time ago, and today, as we speak, only 10%, only

01:3810% is implemented. It's impossible for me to understand such a situation in those circumstances.

01:45When you say that's impossible for me to understand, the externalities and those who know you would say, you know,

01:52that's a difficult statement to understand because you know perfectly how the machine works.

01:57If a report is not implemented, it's because it's stumbled a lot of obstacles. What are those obstacles? Because I

02:02seem to recall certainly the commission, certainly the capital saying this will be our compass and it will guide our

02:08action.

02:09Is it because there's too much volatility in the world? Or again, is it because there's a vision the leadership

02:15simply cannot implement? It does not know how to implement?

02:17If I'm honest with you, I think there's a big gap between the words and the decisions made and the

02:23implementation of the decisions.

02:25Everything should start with initiatives put on the table by the European Commission. That's point one.

02:29Point two, we know that within the EU, unity is never taken for gratitude. You need to fight, to make

02:38decisions and to make things happen.

02:40And I have the impression that we do not dedicate the energy that is needed to put in place the

02:47capital markets union.

02:48What do you mean that? We're not putting the energy in place, that's needed.

02:50I have the impression that sometimes there's the temptation to make a lot of speeches, to make a lot of

02:59comments, but I'm not certain that it's enough.

03:03I'm certain that it's not enough. What is needed is to work with the Member States, with the European Parliament

03:09to make decisions.

03:10And it's difficult. For sure, it's easier to walk around the world, to make comments and to make speeches.

03:18It's more difficult, but more important in those particular circumstances to deliver for the benefit for the Europeans.

03:26First, the civil market, the deepening of the civil market should be a top priority.

03:30And it will not happen as a miracle. It is that you have to work for it.

03:36Point one. Point two, European security and defence.

03:39We are talking about it for many years.

03:42But what are the concrete deliverables? What are the concrete results?

03:46And point three, we need to engage with the rest of the world.

03:50We need to develop reliable partnerships.

03:53And today, I regret that I'm observing that some of my colleagues within, or my former colleagues within the EU,

04:03they made a choice to appease the United States, sometimes to appease Israel, and with the rest of the world,

04:10to show a certain level of arrogance.

04:12And I think we are losing their credibility by acting this way.

04:15But when you say some prefer to make speeches, you also say appeasing the US and Israel, many would think

04:22of that as a straight dig at the head of the European Commission.

04:27That's your conclusion.

04:28So that's your conclusion.

04:30So you don't want to get into names.

04:31Well, you say that's my conclusion.

04:33You don't want to get into names.

04:33But what you're saying is, in any way, your comments are coming from any background of animosity.

04:38It's based on your observation over the past two years that what was promised simply has not been delivered.

04:43It's certainly not our case.

04:44My observation is the following.

04:47I think we should not be taken by surprise.

04:50I was one of those many years ago.

04:53I wasn't alone.

04:54But we were not alone.

04:55At this time, making the point that we needed to get prepared.

04:58We needed to accelerate what was useful to be stronger from an economic point of view or from a security

05:06point of view.

05:07At this time, I remember that those who were drawing the attention that the United States is a country with

05:16a new orientation and it's more than Donald Trump, in my opinion, we were accused to be pretentious.

05:23We were accused to take distance from our traditional allies.

05:28Today, we can see that the list of differences between Europe and the United States is getting longer and longer

05:36every day.

05:37And despite this situation, I'm observing that it seems difficult for some of my former colleagues to do the lessons

05:44and to make the decisions that are needed for a more sovereign and less dependent Europe.

05:49So you mean that it's difficult to talk in abstract with that name, but you mean there's a temptation or

05:56a drive to still cling on to the U.S.?

05:59Look, I'm observing it.

06:01When, under Joe Biden, when the United States made the decision related to the Inflation Reduction Act, it was probably

06:08a way to protect the American interest against China.

06:11But there was a huge cultural effect within the EU.

06:15It's impossible for me to understand why at that time, despite my efforts together with some other colleagues, it was

06:22not possible to speak out, to be firm and to use the tools that we have in our heads.

06:27Another example, when the United States launched a low tariffs against the rest of the world, including against Europe.

06:39And when I observed that there was an impression that some seemed to be happy because it was, at the

06:44end, not so much this aggression.

06:47Yes, it is, it is a lot.

06:49And yes, for every private company, small or big, I need today, I can see what is the impact.

06:57It's another example.

06:58When I'm observing that with regards to Ukraine and Russia, there are more than abilities between the current administration in

07:07the White House and Ukraine.

07:10What does it mean for us?

07:12It means that we have to accelerate the implementation of the measures and we know what we have to do.

07:19More investment, more innovation.

07:21Let's act faster.

07:23Let's stop by having always the obsession to regulate things that do not yet exist, which is...

07:32Even there's not too much regulation still because the message from the Commission is one of simplification.

07:36They would say we're simplifying, simplifying it so fast.

07:39Ask, ask, ask, ask the private companies what they think about that message.

07:44Let me give you an example.

07:46This Commission...

07:47They will defend it.

07:48They would say they are doing it.

07:49In this European Commission, when they started, the top priority was the Green Deal.

07:55And they started to develop a very heavy regulation in the EU.

07:59Then a few months before the European elections, the decision was made to dismantle some parts of those regulations.

08:09The impact is a lack of productivity for companies or for the businesses.

08:14And today, the regular reports are repeatedly only 10% implemented.

08:20That's not a big success.

08:21What you're describing to me is a form of erratic leadership.

08:25And I wonder, where are the capitals and the EU leaders themselves?

08:30Because that's also their job.

08:32The job of the Council also is to counterbalance trends, tendencies, in Brussels.

08:38Is there no checks and balances at this stage on the power coming, especially from the Commission?

08:43Is that the issue?

08:44Look, I want to focus on the substance and the products for the future.

08:49And my policy, all of us, we know what we have to do.

08:52But I'm observing, it seems, it's difficult to make decisions that are urgent and that are needed.

08:58I trust the European Council.

09:00I think that by nature, the European Council is the right body to decide what are the main orientations

09:07and also to make the most difficult decisions.

09:10Because, you know, the European Council is the guardian of the European unity.

09:16And this European unity is something that's not easy to achieve.

09:19It requires a lot of work, a lot of preparation.

09:22It requires a lot of collective intelligence.

09:24It requires to listen to each other.

09:27And I'm confident that sooner or later, the European Council will make additional decisions

09:33to clarify some of the orientations we have to decide on in the near future.

09:40Are we to understand, therefore, that the Council, as it stands, it should be stronger?

09:44It should have a louder voice?

09:46It's not as strong as it should be the message now.

09:48You know, in Malawi, it's not a question of voice.

09:52It's a question of decisions that have to be made.

09:54And what is a bit frustrating for all those like me who are absolutely convinced that this project is more

10:00needed than ever,

10:01the European project, the European dream, the European principles, the European values, the European coexistence,

10:07what is frustrating is the fact that all of us, we know what we have to do.

10:11We know exactly what we have to do.

10:13Everything is on the table.

10:14They are observing that there are always good reasons to procrastinate.

10:17There are always good reasons to waste time.

10:21And that's regrettable.

10:22And again, I don't want to blame anyone in particular.

10:28Let's be clear.

10:29That's not my point.

10:30When I want to blame someone, I'm very clear.

10:32You know me.

10:33Here, that's not my point.

10:34My point is, let's look at the future.

10:36And we have tools, we have capacities, we have capabilities, we have great companies, we have great searchers.

10:44We have a lot of strength within the EU.

10:46And there is a crisis.

10:48There is chaos across the world.

10:50And by experience, we know when it's difficult in the world, in general, the EU is able to learn lessons

10:58fast.

10:59Let's act faster and let's learn our lessons.

11:02Some would argue the weakness at times of the Council goes back to the idea of unanimity.

11:07And that has been dragging the action and certainly the peace and the speed around it.

11:12Viktor Orban, obviously, has been crushed in a defeat.

11:15Viktor Orban now is gone from the Council.

11:18Is that going to make things better?

11:19Actually, would you argue the dynamics are more profound?

11:22Even with the Hungarian Prime Minister gone, this issue will remain.

11:26I hope that it will help the European Council to be more united in the future.

11:32Are you relieved that Viktor Orban lost?

11:34I wouldn't say that.

11:35Because I will tell you why.

11:36Because I think that, based on the experience I have, on some topics, some in the European Council were hiding

11:44behind Viktor Orban.

11:46Point one.

11:47And point two, in some of the European countries, you can have tomorrow some national leaders who are not so

11:54far from Viktor Orban's ideology.

11:56Not some topics, including on Ukraine, for instance.

11:59Point two.

12:01Does it mean that unanimity is a problem?

12:04For sure, unanimity is a challenge.

12:05There is no doubt.

12:06But I think you should think carefully before making a decision not to use unanimity anymore.

12:13Because if you stop to try to involve every country in a self-decision, the risk is that you will

12:21weaken the weight of the EU at international level.

12:26And that's why I think that the priority should be different.

12:30In my opinion, we should fight against the abuse of this veto right.

12:34Because if you follow the philosophy and the principle of the Lisbon Treaty, the idea was really that the veto

12:41right was supposed to be used when your vital interests are at risk.

12:45And the problem is that today, too many countries are tempted too many times to use this veto right as

12:52a kind of tool to blackmail and to get something in the other side.

12:56That's the problem, the one, I think.

12:58And I want to ask you two final questions.

12:59Now you say this idea of unanimity, finding ways around it, perhaps it's not the silver bullet.

13:04And yet, what we understand is the Commission now certainly believes a two-speed Europe may be a solution.

13:13Is that something that you look at objectively and go, yeah, it's a value or it sounds easier said than

13:18done?

13:20First, it is already existed with the eurozone.

13:24You say it's not new.

13:25That's not new.

13:26That's not new.

13:27And indeed, I feel that we have to accept it on some topics.

13:31If it's not possible to the 27 countries in the world, maybe some of them, they need a bit more

13:36time to accept it.

13:37But it should not make it possible for the others, if there is political will, to advance and to make

13:43progress.

13:43That's my first comment.

13:45And point two, the enlargement process.

13:47It's a very important strategic decision.

13:50And because of the enlargement process, I have the opinion, indeed, that the concept of viable geometry could be a

14:00good concept to be pragmatic, to be effective, and to make possible for those candidate countries to join the EU

14:07as fast as possible, but maybe not immediately with every tool in terms of participating in the discriminating process.

14:17And just finally, you had indicated at the time of the European Council that you saw 2030 as a possible

14:26date for enlargement to take place.

14:28At the time, that was seen as almost pie in the sky.

14:32It was a dream, a proposal that had come out of nowhere.

14:35When I listened to the words of the Ukrainian president, he would probably agree 2030 is a good date, but

14:40also probably too late.

14:41So when does Ukraine join the European Union?

14:44You know, I hope as soon as possible.

14:48And these are our common interests.

14:51Point one.

14:52And point two is not only about Ukraine and Moldova.

14:54It's also about Western Balkans.

14:56And it's very important that we accelerate this process, this path.

15:02We made promises many years ago.

15:04And unfortunately, on both sides, the candidate countries, the EU, we didn't deliver on our promises.

15:10Now, we can see what are the circumstances.

15:13Do we feel that we are more secure with the Western Balkans outside of the EU?

15:17I don't think so.

15:18I feel that we are more secure.

15:20The future will be more stable, more predictable, more prosperous with the Western Balkans within the EU.

15:26And of course, it's a technical process.

15:27But it's also a political decision.

15:30Do we want to find every week a new justification to postpone or on the contrary, we want to be

15:36effective.

15:37And we want them to join the EU.

15:40It seems to me, however, listening to the leaders just finally on this point, that they would agree enlargement needs

15:44to happen as soon as possible and complete the Union.

15:47But they would also say we need to reform and there is no fast track for Ukraine.

15:52Are those three statements compatible?

15:54Yeah, but what you are mentioning is this Greek language, no fast track, etc.

15:59When we want to do something, but in parallel, we add a sentence.

16:07So it is, in fact, more difficult to get the result.

16:13So let's be clear, there is no doubt that in those countries, they have to do their homework and they

16:19know what they have to do.

16:20They have to put in place a reform, they have to guarantee the independence of justice, to fight against corruption,

16:26etc.

16:27Point one.

16:27On the other hand, let's be honest, in some of the European countries, it was very comfortable to use the

16:34argument of those countries not acting as fast as needed.

16:42Because there is, in some European countries, a difficult political debate with this enlargement policy.

16:48And I think in those circumstances, we could all win if we tell the truth to our people.

16:55Everywhere in Europe, the future will be more stable, more secure with them within the EU.

17:02And of course, there are some efforts, but there are also other efforts that are needed in terms of domestic

17:08reforms and in terms of what kind of policy we put in place.

17:13So Michel, thank you so much for joining us here.

17:16You

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