Frankfurt (Germany), 6 May (LaPresse) – “I would not link the abolition of unanimity to the enlargement process: we must find a solution as quickly as possible and enhanced cooperation is an urgent necessity,” said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul at the 13th Adenauer Conference. “We cannot wait until 2027; we do not have those two years; we must speed things up,” he added. The head of German diplomacy called on the European Union to overcome the decision-making paralysis linked to the principle of unanimity, stressing that institutional reforms and the enlargement process do not necessarily have to proceed hand in hand. “Those who do not wish to participate should allow others to move forward constructively,” he said, highlighting the need for greater flexibility among Member States. Wadephul issued a warning about the risk of losing global competitiveness. “If we as the European Union do not take action, others will,” he said, adding that Germany wants a Europe “capable of taking the initiative and leading the way”. “We are losing ground every day and we need a quantum leap,” he concluded, invoking the spirit of Europe’s founding fathers and stressing that “this is a time for courage and we cannot afford to waste any more time”.