The EU could and should put an end to unanimity when it comes to sanctions

Sanctions are currently the EU’s main foreign policy tool, but the way they are currently adopted, by unanimity, makes them very fragile. However, the Treaty provides for the possibility of adopting them by qualified majority.

The European Union has no army. To counter the existential threat posed by Vladimir Putin’s imperialist Russia after Donald Trump’s reversal of alliance, it is supporting thestrengthening of its Member States’ defence capabilities with the recently adopted ReArm Europe plan. But the main tool it has at this stage to oppose its enemies remainssanctions.