German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for reforms to the European Union to make it suitable for accepting new countries as well as more military autonomy, AP reports.

Speaking at a congress of the Party of European Socialists in Berlin, Scholz advocated the gradual abolition of unanimity in decision-making in foreign policy as well as in other areas such as tax policy. “I know that we still have a lot of convincing to do there,” the chancellor said. “But I also say clearly: if a geopolitical Europe is our aspiration, then majority decisions are a gain and not a loss of sovereignty.”

Currently, many EU decisions can only be made if all countries vote unanimously.

Scholz also supports greater EU military autonomy. He called for coordinated purchases of weapons and equipment, an EU rapid reaction force by 2025, and an EU headquarters for the European military. “In Europe, we need better interplay between our defense efforts," he said. "In the future, Europe will need a coordinated increase in capabilities ... we must confidently and jointly advance European defense.”

Scholz called for an enlarged European Union, saying it would then be better able to influence world affairs.