site.btaBulgarian MEPs Oppose Introduction of Qualified Majority Voting on Key Issues - Kristian Vigenin

All representatives of Bulgaria in the European Parliament are against the introduction and expansion of the use of qualified majority voting on foreign policy, defence, enlargement, and other key issues, said Kristian Vigenin, Member of the European Parliament from the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats/Bulgarian Socialist Party. He took part on Thursday in a discussion held by the parliamentary European Affairs and Oversight of European Funds Committee in connection with the Annual Report 2024 on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and on relations with national parliaments.

“There is a perception, especially among leading EU Member States and their representatives in the European Parliament, that the Union has reached the limits of its ability to function effectively within its current institutional system and number of Member States,” Vigenin said. “It is believed, though I do not share this view, that when the number of Member States increases, it will become even more difficult to achieve unanimity on major issues, and this problem could be solved by introducing qualified majority voting. This view is widely shared within the two main political groups,” he commented.

According to Vigenin, however, such decisions would actually deepen internal divisions within the EU. “These important issues, such as foreign policy, defence, and the budget, substantially affect the sovereignty of each Member State,” the MEP added.

In the European Parliament, there is a strong prevailing view that national parliaments should be granted additional powers regarding European legislation. At present, national parliaments have what are known as the “yellow card” and “orange card” mechanisms. Two more should be added - a “green card” and a “red card.”

“The “green card” would give national parliaments the opportunity to propose legislation, while the “red card”, with a qualified majority of national parliaments, would allow them to directly block a legislative proposal. These are positive and constructive ideas that should be incorporated into the next revision of the EU treaties,” said Kristian Vigenin.