![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/Guy-Verhofstadt-4958100.jpg?r=1694623327490\")
<\/p>\nGuy Verhofstadt has called for EU member states to lose their veto power.<\/p>\n
The Belgian MEP demanded changes to European treaties to reform the decision-making process as the bloc looks to enlarge.<\/p>\n
Mr Verhofstadt singled out the unanimity rule which means all 27 countries must agree before Brussels can make decisions in sensitive areas such as foreign policy and tax.<\/p>\n
It can lead to bitter wrangling and any single member state can use its veto to torpedo a proposal.<\/p>\n
Mr Verhofstadt said: “Can you imagine a Europe with 35 members without reshaping the Commission and with the unanimity rule intact? Totally unworkable!”<\/p>\n
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He added: “If we open negotiations with candidate member states, we also need to open the debate on treaty reform.”<\/p>\n
His comments come after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the possibility of treaty changes in her State of the Union speech in the European Parliament earlier today.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cI will always support this House – and all of those who want to reform the EU and make it work better for citizens.<\/p>\n
“And yes, that means including through a European Convention and treaty change if and where it is needed.”<\/p>\n
But she added that Brussels “cannot… wait for treaty change to move ahead with enlargement”.<\/p>\n
It comes as the debate is raging within the bloc over a timeline for welcoming new members.<\/p>\n
Ms von der Leyen has rejected European Council President Charles Michel’s call for a 2030 deadline.<\/p>\n
Eight countries – Turkey, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Moldova, Ukraine, and Bosnia and Herzegovina – currently hold candidate status.<\/p>\n
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