Yesterday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock unveiled a six-point reform plan for the EU in Berlin. The core proposal is to abolish the "veto power" in areas such as foreign affairs and security, replacing it with decisions by qualified majority; allowing certain countries to advance cooperation independently, avoiding being held back by individual members. She bluntly stated that inefficient EU decision-making has now reached a survival crisis, citing data: 97% of Europe’s heavy rare earths rely on China; over the past 25 years, China's share of global industrial output has risen from 6% to 30%, while the EU’s share has declined from 19% to 15%. Meanwhile, Germany loses an average of 300 industrial jobs per day. Currently, 12 countries have backed the reforms. Germany aims to use this overhaul to help the EU stand firm amid the Sino-US competition.
[Witty] Comment briefly: This push by Germany for EU reform essentially reflects Europe’s “self-rescue” in the context of Sino-US rivalry. Once starting from the European Coal and Steel Community, the EU achieved economic glory through integration—but today, the bloc of 27 nations has become a burden in decision-making. Hungary’s veto on aid loans to Ukraine is a clear example. Historically, the Lisbon Treaty already shifted most matters to majority voting, but key areas like foreign policy and security still retain the requirement for “unanimity,” creating a critical weakness. With Europe’s industries shrinking, resources under strategic pressure, and lagging behind in fields like AI, and with the U.S. prioritizing its own interests, failure to accelerate reform risks complete marginalization. Yet reform remains difficult due to balancing national sovereignty—France and Germany want leadership, while Central and Eastern European smaller states fear being sidelined. Ultimately, the EU must either overcome its internal inefficiencies or gradually be pushed to the margins in great power competition. This step is necessary, but undoubtedly fraught with challenges.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1864494483729415/
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