EU Members form Group of Friends for Better Foreign and Security policies

A set of European Union member countries have banded together to form a Group of Friends to improve effectiveness and speed of our foreign-policy decision-making.

The group aims to foster Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) in the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), a report by the German Foreign ministry stated.

All EU Member States that want to make progress on Common Foreign and Security Policy decision-making, especially the increased use of qualified Majority Voting, and without prejudice to a wider debate on QMV in other policy areas, are welcome to join the Group.

As per the report, this action was prompted by Russia's aggression on Ukraine and Growing international challenges for the EU. This has caused a need for adapted processes and procedures in order to strengthen the EU as a foreign policy actor.

The Group will share the results of its deliberations transparently will all Member States of the European Union.