In late 2023, the EU parliament voted for a resolution that called for more decisions at the EU level to be made by a qualified majority, rather than by a unanimous vote of the Council of the European Union.

Posts in French – as well as in other languages including German and English – claimed this meant that member states would soon lose their right to veto measures with which they disagreed. But there are several reasons why this is false.

For one thing, a resolution like this one voted in the EU parliament has no bearing on policy without the approval of the council. Instead, it is meant as an expression of a will to enact a future change.

Paris-based Myriam Adam explains that changing how voting legislation works at the EU would require, among other things, a unanimous vote from the Council of the European Union.

MUSIC: Audio Network / Three Kings / Joshua Arcoleo (PRS) | Chris Hyson (PRS)