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Nine EU countries have formed a
so-called 'Group of Friends' to seek qualified majority vote -
rather than unanimous voting - in foreign policy topics of
collective European security. France, Italy, Spain, Luxembourg,
Belgium, Holland, Finland, and Slovenia have supported the
initiative, which was sponsored by Germany. "The goal is to
improve the effectiveness and speed of decision-making against
the backdrop of Russia's aggression and the growing
international challenges, we are convinced that adequate
processes are required to strengthen the EU as a foreign policy
actor," the document states.
