German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Monday that the EU should lift the individual right of member states to veto foreign policy, as the European bloc cannot be held hostage.
His comments reflect Berlin's outrage at how member states, such as Hungary, prevent the Union from acting on issues on which almost all states agree.
"We can not allow ourselves to be held hostage by people who obstruct Europe's foreign policy with their vetoes," Maas said.
The German Foreign Minister stressed that if a country does such a thing, then it endangers the cohesion of the whole of Europe.
"Therefore, the veto must be removed, even if it means we can vote," Maas said.
His statements come as an unusual criticism of Germany towards a member state. Germany, aware of its political and economic weight in the EU, is very careful not to look like a dominant country when it comes to deciding.
In April, Hungary blocked an EU statement criticizing Chinese security law in Hong Kong, undermining the bloc's efforts to confront Beijing over restrictions on freedom and democracy in the former British colony.