Brussels, 29 September (LaPresse) – ‘The possibility of giving the Council the power to decide that qualified majority voting could be explored for certain intermediate stages of the enlargement process and the closure of the negotiating chapter should continue to be taken unanimously by all Member States, just as the willingness to take the final decision on the actual accession decision should be taken anonymously. However, we have opened discussions and said that we can examine it.’ This was stated by European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier in the daily press briefing. ‘When it comes to EU accession, the Commission stated in its review of pre-enlargement policies, the communication published last year, that in line with the conclusions of the European Council and the call for an accelerated accession process, the enlargement process itself could be examined,’ he explains. "I would also like to recall President von der Leyen's speech in which she said that we need to move to qualified majority voting in certain areas. She explicitly mentioned foreign policy, leaving open the question of whether there might be other examples. But this also illustrates what has just been said, namely that this could indeed be explored," adds chief spokesperson Paula Pinho. The President of the European Council is reportedly consulting with Member States on this possibility to circumvent Hungary's veto on opening negotiation chapters for Ukraine.