"In my 25 years with the EU, I have only seen the frequency of vetoes increase"

In a long-form interview with Het Financieele Dagblad (in Dutch), our Director Steven Everts said Europe keeps clinging to the pressure of unanimity in a world where acting at speed and scale is truly crucial. "We cannot let everything be decided by 27 Member States. The EU will have to think much more in terms of groups of countries and industrial partners."

Also speaking to The European Correspondent, Steven argued that in an era of great powers, unanimity is no longer tangible. "It is time for Europe to bite the bullet and find ways to form European action by majority."

When asked about the war in Iran, he stressed that Europe must not get stuck in moral outrage over President Trump's violation of the rule of law or the righteousness of this war. It should instead join the discussions on how to put a swift end to the conflict. "We must not remain stuck in a holding position."

The war "is not far away," he warned. "Some people say Ukraine is the war on our continent, and it is. But the war in the Middle East is right next door."