The following study deals with qualified majority voting (QMV) and the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) of the European Union (EU). As the EU develops into a geopolitical actor, it is necessary to analyse its existing and future foreign policy decision-making procedures. However, a series of high-profile instances have called into question the EU’s ability to act in a rapid and effective manner, especially as the need for unanimity has in practice obstructed EU action on human rights, restrictive measures and common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions and operations. This study shows how unanimity affects the operation of CFSP and how divergences among EU Member States can be managed, before considering what costs and benefits could result from applying QMV in the areas of human rights, restrictive measures and civilian missions under the CSDP. To this end, it employs four case studies focusing on human rights in Hong Kong, restrictive measures on Belarus, the EULEX Mission in Kosovo* and restrictive measures on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. 

European Parliamentary Research Service, 2023 (written with Giulia Tercovich).

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