Sir, – Tuesday’s editorial argues for the retention of the veto power in EU decision making, to protect vital national interests (“The Irish Times view on Ursula von der Leyen: overstepping her brief,” March 10th).
Veto power means that any EU member state, no matter how small, can block the wishes of the democratically elected politicians representing the vast majority (sometimes around 99 per cent) of the EU population. This applies to foreign policy, in particular.
The equivalent example in the US would involve a tiny state like Rhode Island having veto power over key US foreign policy decisions.
This is the impasse the EU faces in trying to cope, collectively and effectively, with existential challenges on many fronts, such as security, economic/environmental policy independence, and capital market integration. Those in support of the veto should, at a minimum, acknowledge this reality and its consequences.
RM Block
To remove the veto, though, would require treaty change. Changes to EU decision-making rules, including the veto, must be approved by every member state, thereby effectively making treaty change in this regard almost impossible.
In the absence of such a change, it seems the only viable option is for a group of like-minded member states to form a union of states willing to unite in their response to the urgent crises facing the EU. It has happened in the past in relation to the eurozone. It can happen again and it almost certainly must happen again.
This is the reality Ireland should be preparing for. - Yours, etc,
JOHN O’HAGAN,
Department of Economics,
Trinity College,
Dublin.
