The Brief – Language of power
DISCLAIMER: All opinions in this column reflect the views of the author(s), not of EURACTIV Media network.
By Alexandra Brzozowski | EURACTIV.com 18:47 (updated: 18:59)
The Brief is EURACTIV's evening newsletter. [Shutterstock/Bumble Dee]
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has forced the EU to finally match colourful words on foreign policy ambitions with actual actions, in a major ‘paradigm shift’ that seemed inconceivable just a week ago.
For more than two years – through the devastating pandemic that thwarted various diplomatic initiatives hardly helped – the European Commission has struggled to fulfil its promise and become a ‘geopolitical’ player.
But for once, the author of this Brief, who has closely followed EU external action – from Brussels to remote places like the Arctic and Central Asia – will not be critical of the EU’s foreign policymaking.
In fact, everyone who has become used to the bloc being “very, deeply, strongly, seriously, gravely, extremely, unprecedentedly (…)’ concerned” at whatever challenge came its way will have found the latest change in tone remarkable.
This time around, EU leaders abandoned diplomatic caution and moderation and called out Russia for what it is and then put their threats into swift, concrete action.
Has the EU finally managed to ‘learn the language of power’?
As Russian troops entered Ukraine’s breakaway Donbas region, amid outrage and fury over Moscow’s bombardment of cities and civilian targets… it has.
Ironically, we can thank Vladimir Putin, who has managed to achieve more in the space of a dramatic few days than the EU did in decades.
Of course, the EU’s response to the crisis has not been perfect. Member states will keep being short-sighted, preferring to put their own (economic) interests first where they can and only abandoning them because of pressure or coercion.
But the shift is not only about the change of tone.
In the past two years, the EU has struggled to make credible pledges to support its near neighbourhood and partners, be it the Western Balkans, Africa during COVID-19, Lithuania facing Chinese economic coercion, or Ukraine in the face of the Russian threat. Calls for action either fell on deaf ears or help arrived only after considerable delay.
The unprecedented strength and speed at which the EU and its member states thrashed out one package of punitive measures after another came as a surprise to many, including this author.
This shows that the strategy was there but what was missing was the political will.
Slapping painful sanctions on Russia’s economy and Putin’s inner circles, banning Russian flights from EU airspace, restricting access to Russian state media, pledging aid to Ukraine in a way not seen before – and breaking the ‘taboo’ of financing purchase and delivery of lethal weapons to a third country.
Even a Ukrainian bid for EU membership now seems to be less far–fetched, judging from comments by Ursula von der Leyen, Josep Borrell & Co.
“The war cannot wait for bureaucratic procedures,” Borrell, the EU’s chief diplomat, flatly declared on Sunday.
Certainly, the EU’s executive won’t be able to shed completely its sedate, bureaucratic image any time soon, even if it wants to.
But Western European arrogance, sometimes inherent in the EU’s institutional fabric, seems to be slowly waning, not only vis a vis year and years of Eastern Europeans’ realism and warnings about a megalomaniacal dictator in the East.
What has changed is the perception of threats and the realisation that it actually needs projection of power to counter them.
How handy, then, that the bloc has been developing the so-called Strategic Compass, the EU’s upcoming military strategy document, whose blueprint has been seen by EURACTIV and which is meant to be formally adopted later this month.
As so often with the flurry of EU strategies in the past, this one has been clouded by fear the EU’s diplomatic service might produce yet another ‘paper tiger’.
But as tensions preceding the current crisis had already impacted the drafting process, the shadow of war now might force the bloc to leave behind years of a futile ‘strategic autonomy’ debate on a technical level and go for the real thing.
Because it is possible to be strong and independent, precisely by coordinating with allies and partners. This will be judged by what effect the sanctions have.
There is one caveat though: What if the ‘language of power’ goes too far and the EU turns out to be unable to make good on the promises (or threats) it makes?
Today’s edition is powered by ECR Group.
Eastern Partnership – Europe as a civilisational choice
The ECR Group hosts recognised experts in the fields of security, economy, democratisation & European integration, as well as decision-makers from the Eastern Partnership region for the first ECR Eastern Partnership Summit, the ‘Eastern Partnership – Europe as a civilisational choice’.
A huge Russian armoured column bore down on Kyiv on Tuesday, after the lethal shelling of civilian areas in Ukraine’s second largest city raised fears that frustrated Russian commanders could resort to more devastating tactics.
YouTube on Tuesday blocked accounts connected to Russian state-controlled RT and Sputnik and removed thousands of videos following calls to curb the spread of pro-Kremlin propaganda on social media after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russia will impose temporary curbs on foreign investors seeking to exit Russian assets to ensure they take a considered decision not one driven by political pressure, the prime minister said on Tuesday, as Moscow responds to Western sanctions.
The European Union said it would seriously look into Ukraine’s application to become a bloc candidate country, recognising the move’s political weight and dramatic circumstances as well as hesitation from many member states.
Some of the world’s biggest tech platforms are rolling out unprecedented actions designed to stem the tide of Kremlin-sponsored disinformation surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
European telecom companies have voluntarily taken measures to relieve the humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing Russian invasion.
The EU’s Crisis and Humanitarian aid chief on Tuesday warned that the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and its neighbouring countries could well intensify in the coming days as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine becomes increasingly ‘brutal’.
The European Union must significantly increase its capacity to deter wars, its foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told EU lawmakers on Tuesday, addressing the second ‘taboo’ in a few days, after the bloc approved supplying arms to Ukraine.
The European Commission will propose that EU countries tax profits made from recent gas price spikes and use it to invest in renewable energy and energy-saving renovations, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday.
Look out for…
Equality Commissioner Helena Dalli delivers keynote speech via videoconference at French High Council Gender Equality event “for a Feminist European Union: Challenges to be Addressed during the French Presidency.
Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn participates in ‘Stability and Growth Pact after Corona’ event.
UNEA-5 high-level leadership dialogue: Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
European Investment Bank and Bank of Greece host conference Investment in Greece post-COVID-19.
Views are the author’s
[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic/Alice Taylor]
No comments:
Post a Comment