Germany has unveiled a six-point proposal aimed at reforming the European Union and accelerating enlargement, while stressing that the Western Balkans deserve concrete results after waiting decades for EU integration.
Speaking at the 13th Adenauer Conference, “Boldly Shaping Europe’s Future,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the EU must become “more agile, flexible and innovative” in order to adapt to new geopolitical realities.
Wadephul emphasized that enlargement is directly tied to the EU’s credibility.
“We owe the people of the Western Balkans results,” he declared, adding that countries willing to implement reforms should finally see tangible progress toward membership.
The German proposal includes:
• Expanding “enhanced cooperation” among smaller groups of member states when consensus among all 27 countries cannot be reached;
• Introducing more qualified majority voting, especially in foreign and security policy, to prevent single-state blockages;
• Strengthening the EU’s foreign policy structures and decision-making capacity;
• Reinforcing rule-of-law mechanisms and conditioning EU funds on respect for democratic values;
• Reforming EU institutions to function effectively in a future union of 33 to 35 members;
• Transforming enlargement into a gradual integration process, with phased participation before full membership.
Wadephul argued that the unanimity principle has increasingly paralyzed the EU, especially on security matters.
“When it comes to security issues, the principle of unanimity can place us in existential danger,” he warned, citing Russia’s war in Ukraine as proof that Europe needs faster and more decisive action.
He also underlined that future EU enlargement must include structural reforms within the Union itself, saying a bloc with over 30 members cannot continue operating under rules designed for a much smaller community.
At the same time, he reaffirmed Germany’s support for the Western Balkans’ European future, stressing that enlargement remains a strategic necessity for Europe.
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