The abandonment of the unanimity rule is far from becoming a reality.

This is again a test for the tenability of the unanimity rule.

I share the reservations expressed about the fact that essential areas are still subject to the unanimity rule.

I realise that it is difficult for the Commissioner to reach true agreement on this under the unanimity rule.

The permanent and temporary rescue funds cannot work because they have a unanimity rule.

Of course, a major difficulty with the proposal was that, here too, the unanimity rule applied and continues to do so.

It is regrettable, however, that the unanimity rule currently applies.

We must come forward with a proposal to abolish the unanimity rule in the rescue funds, because it cannot work.

This must surely come under the unanimity rule.

Putting an end to the unanimity rule is finally allowing the Commission to exercise increasingly compulsory powers.

In such large juries the unanimity rule would be unrealistic and verdicts were reached by majority.

In the area of asylum, the unanimity rule has reduced us to settling for the lowest common denominator.

It is because of the unanimity rule in the Council, which is preventing Europe from taking action.

However, we are extremely concerned about the mediocre results achieved in the Council on this text, precisely because of the unanimity rule.

The Council has decided to curtail democracy still further by abolishing the unanimity rule, even on extremely important issues.

On the other hand, the decision-making process must be reviewed and the unanimity rule should make way for a two-thirds majority rule.

In the Council of Ministers the unanimity rule must be removed in almost all areas.

With twenty-seven or thirty Member States, you cannot continue to work with the unanimity rule.

The permanent stability mechanism is the subject of an intergovernmental agreement, which unfortunately means that the unanimity rule will be applied.

But it is scandalous to use this situation in an attempt, practically if not institutionally, to get round the unanimity rule.

The Renault decision has proved that the unanimity rule in the Council needs to be abolished.

But this solution will clearly never be achieved as long as this whole issue is still subject to the unanimity rule.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I usually defend the unanimity rule, but not this time.

Firstly, the unanimity rule must be abolished, except for matters related to the institutions themselves and to the transfer of powers.

The most important task here is to get over the blockade preventing further steps towards integration by abolishing the unanimity rule.