Under the EU’s unanimity rule, one member state can halt decisions on foreign policy, sanctions, taxation, and enlargement. With 27 members at the table, there is significant potential for deadlock, and in recent years, it has moved from a theoretical risk to a political reality.
Hungary has used the veto, or threatened to, to block or delay Ukraine aid, EU sanctions on Russia, and budget decisions repeatedly since 2022. Experts note a shift in how the veto is used.
