Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė warned on Wednesday that proposals to create a “two-speed” European Union could undermine the bloc’s unity, even as she acknowledged frustrations with slow decision-making in the 27-member group.
“I think we should increasingly discuss how to avoid separate unions and instead have a common European Union,” Ruginienė said. “Regardless of a country’s size, one clear and strong voice is our security guarantee and gives us strength. If we start dividing countries, that sense of unity gradually fades.”
Her comments came after Reuters reported that Germany has proposed a “two-speed” EU model under which the six largest economies would form a core group able to make decisions more quickly than the full bloc.
According to the report, the proposed format would aim to reduce bureaucracy, strengthen the euro and create a common capital market to improve access to financing for European startups and businesses.
The plan’s broader goal is to turn the defence industry into a driver of economic growth and secure access to raw materials to help Europe compete with the United States and China.
The proposed core group would include Germany, France, Poland, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands.
At the same time, Ruginienė said the EU’s current decision-making process is often too slow and lacks a clear political leader capable of uniting member states around key priorities.
“Even something like the veto right used to be a completely normal and accepted tool, but today it hinders the adoption of particularly important European Union decisions,” she said, citing Ukraine’s integration into the EU as one such issue.
“If there are countries that use the veto power to block key decisions and processes, how do we move forward? That is probably why various ideas are emerging,” the prime minister said.
Ruginienė said Germany should take on a stronger political leadership role within the EU, arguing that the bloc needs clearer direction amid growing geopolitical and security challenges.
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