The position of small EU Member States on the extension of qualified majority voting into CFSP

This thesis examines the position of small member states of the European Union (EU) on the extension of qualified majority voting (QMV) to the area of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). In the context of growing geopolitical challenges and efforts to make EU decision-making processes more effective, this issue is gaining in importance. The aim of the thesis is to identify, through qualitative content analysis of selected small member states’ positions, how these states approach the potential extension of QMV and what factors influence their stance. The goal is to contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of small states in the context of EU institutional reforms and to enrich the academic debate on their place within CFSP. The theoretical part defines the concept of a small state, its position, and strategies in the international system, with a particular focus on its functioning within the EU. The empirical part first outlines the current state of the debate on the possible extension of QMV to the CFSP, then analyzes the specific national positions of selected states and assesses them in light of theoretical approaches to small state behavior.