Georgian Parliament official says EU veto reform undermines bloc’s values and image

Rati Ionatamishvili, the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights Protection and Civil Integration, on Wednesday criticised the European Commission’s recent proposal to change the EU’s decision-making process by abolishing member states’ right to exercise a veto and block decisions, arguing that such a move would create numerous problems for EU member states.

Speaking to Imedi TV, Ionatamishvili said discussions over the proposal not only undermined EU values but also damaged the bloc’s prospects and image.

“Scepticism is growing within EU member states, and adopting such a decision would create numerous problems for these countries. The very idea of the European Union was founded on the significance of each individual member state. Effectively abolishing the veto would amount to the occupation of certain countries by Euro-bureaucrats”, Ionatamishvili said.

“Had the EU’s founders known that such an issue would eventually arise, they might well have declined to establish the Union in the first place, as such discussions not only undermine EU values but also damage its overall prospects and image. It is regrettable that Euro-bureaucrats treat the European Union and European institutions with such disregard”, he concluded.