Josep Borrell: The EU’s undiplomatic high diplomat

Josep Borrell made some EU diplomats very offended certainly.

The bloc’s high diplomat exited a gathering in Luxembourg in late October and mapped out the place of EU international locations on the Israel-Hamas battle. Besides he obtained it unsuitable.

Borrell mentioned there was “primary consensus” among the many ministers on the necessity for a humanitarian pause within the preventing. Nonetheless, it took 4 extra days of diplomatic haggling and a five-hour-long leaders’ assembly behind closed doorways to achieve unanimity on the wording. EU leaders finally agreed on the necessity for humanitarian pauses (plural). 

“Fundamental consensus” was extensive of the mark. Whereas Spain was angling for a full cease-fire, international locations similar to Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic wished to keep away from any language that sounded prefer it may impinge on Israel’s proper to self-defense.

A high official from the European Exterior Motion Service, the EU’s diplomatic arm, needed to go and clarify to the member states why Borrell introduced there was consensus amongst EU international locations when that was not the case, in keeping with three EU diplomats granted anonymity to debate the secretive talks. 

That high official was Stefano Sannino, the secretary-general of the EEAS, who spoke throughout a gathering of ambassadors following the overseas affairs ministers’ assembly.

One of many EU diplomats talked about above described Sannino’s intervention as “a method to apologize” for Borrell’s remarks whereas the 2 different diplomats solid it extra as a proof than a full apology. 

“Everybody knew this was not Sannino’s fault, he’s being criticized due to Borrell’s feedback,” the primary EU official talked about above mentioned. 

An EU spokesperson mentioned Borrell clearly acknowledged after the overseas affairs ministers’ assembly “that many positions had been voiced within the room through the first dialogue among the many 27 member states on a humanitarian pause, and an awesome majority was in favor of it.” 

Quickly sufficient Borrell was at it once more.

Simply sooner or later after EU leaders at a European Council summit agreed on the necessity for “humanitarian corridors and pauses,” Borrell took to social media to criticize the scenario in Gaza, saying it “is towards worldwide humanitarian regulation” and calling for “a pause of hostilities” to allow humanitarian entry.

The EU’s high diplomat used the singular phrase, pause, regardless of EU international locations not utilizing that phrase, because it might be interpreted as a name for an extended cease-fire. EU leaders had particularly endorsed the phrase “pauses.” 

Austrian Overseas Minister Alexander Schallenberg was one of many first to react, stressing that “it’s crucial to stay to the positions” of the European Council — and tagging Borrell in his tweet. 

“I felt obliged to publicly recall the collectively developed EU place,” Schallenberg informed POLITICO to clarify his response. 

Borrell going past what EU international locations agreed contributed to the notion that the EU is split on the battle, mentioned Luigi Scazzieri of the Centre for European Reform, a think-tank. 

Inner division

The EU has struggled to talk with one voice on the battle within the Center East, with European Fee chief Ursula von der Leyen accused of taking a pro-Israel place and Borrell seen as having a extra pro-Palestinian viewpoint.

Borrell, a Spanish socialist, has even criticized von der Leyen, his German conservative boss, for not totally following what EU member states — who’re in command of the bloc’s overseas coverage — selected the Center East.

Overseas coverage shouldn’t be determined by the Fee however by “the high-level political choice of the European Union Council, chaired by President [Charles] Michel and by the Overseas Affairs Council ministers chaired by me,” he commented on von der Leyen’s go to to Israel. 

He’s not alone in being aggravated on the Fee chief. After neglecting to say the bloc’s assist for Palestinian statehood in her public remarks on the Israel-Hamas battle, some 800 EU workers took the weird step of writing to protest that von der Leyen was exhibiting unjustifiable bias towards Israel within the battle.

It’s that man once more

Whereas von der Leyen got here underneath hearth for her place, Borrell hasn’t obtained the identical degree of scrutiny. Is that as a result of he has a historical past of constructing gaffes?

“It’s Borrell,” one EU official — granted anonymity to talk freely — mentioned with a shrug. “It’s not the primary time and it gained’t be the final time.”

It actually isn’t the primary time.

At first of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, for instance, he introduced that “we’re going to provide … even fighter jets” to Kyiv — which at that second was not the case.

Borrell had an identical status in Spanish politics, the place he was recognized for voicing his personal opinions — even once they had been lower than diplomatic. There have been, for instance, complaints from Moscow in 2019 after he referred to Russia as “our previous enemy” in public. The veteran politician’s tendency to make problematic off-the-cuff statements led many in Madrid to interpret his nomination to his present publish in Brussels as a banishment relatively than a reward.

Supporters of Borrell argue he merely publicizes choices upfront, just like the one on fighters for Ukraine, which can be agreed at a later stage. By now, many diplomats are accustomed to his model.  

On the identical time, Borrell’s remarks have additionally helped sign to the Center East that some Europeans are prepared to be extra sturdy in holding Israel accountable, mentioned Scazzieri of the Centre for European Reform.

“If the EU as a complete had Borrell’s place, it could be considerably simpler for it to combat the accusation of double requirements and hypocrisy,” Scazzieri mentioned.

Borrell performed his playing cards properly, mentioned Steven Van Hecke, a professor in European politics on the Catholic College of Leuven.

“The tensions between von der Leyen and Borrell clearly play a job right here as properly,” mentioned Van Hecke. “On this battle, von der Leyen has reacted as a German politician, not because the president of the European Fee. Borrell has a special background, as Spain is traditionally extra in contact with the Arab world. After all of the criticism, this has been a method for Borrell to indicate that he’s not afraid of enjoying his function.”

Aitor Hernández-Morales contributed reporting.