When Josep Borrell In 2019 he assumed the chair of head of European diplomacy He was described by many in the corridors of Brussels as the most anti-diplomatic diplomat to assume that position. His unfortunate responses to critical questions or his personal judgments on national political issues – such as the processes independence – made their start founder in front of the European External Action Service. Five years later, he passed the baton to Kaja Kallas leaving in his legacy a record that stands out for staunchly defending Ukraine, making European countries blush for their hypocrisy in Gaza and resigning himself to the most obvious reality of the EU as a geopolitical actor: The disunity of the Union weakens its power and role on the international chess board.
“It’s an unpopular opinion, but Josep Borrell has been a pretty good High Representative. It has generated a more independent voice for this position; has contributed to the EU’s resolution in Ukraine and has highlighted some of the EU’s hypocrisies on Gaza,” analyzes Jeremy Cliffeeditorial director of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).
Borrell is a brilliant speaker and mind. He exudes personality, which has often become a trap. His spontaneity has generated both praise and reproaches. He hasn’t mince words, although he has bitten it more than once. He has criticized MEPs, ministers and even his diplomatic corps distributed throughout the planet: “I find out more about what’s happening by reading the press than your reports.“, he even reproached them at the annual conference.
He has left speeches in the Strasbourg plenary session full of reflections and historical references that have shaken consciences. “Just as we can say that it is an abhorrent tragedy to kill young people who were celebrating life, can we not say that about the death of 800 children in Gaza? How does lamenting one tragedy take away my moral strength to lament another? On the contrary, he gives it to me,” he stated a few days after the Hamas attacks on Israeli soil, which more than a year later have unleashed a fierce response from the Hebrew Army.
But it has also gotten into quite a few gardens. It has a long history of controversy. One of his most memorable moments is the abandonment of an interview with German television Deutsche Welle. when asked about the situation in Catalonia. His words about the massacre against indigenous people in the United States also generated controversy: “The only thing they did was kill four Indians“, he pointed out. One of his great slips occurred when he compared the EU to a garden and the rest of the world to the jungle. Some words that were highly criticized for their racist and colonialist overtones. “I do not understand that it has been interpreted as racist , colonialist or ethnicist. It was a message of solidarity. “To tell young Europeans that they are lucky to live in an area of freedom, economic progress and social cohesion,” he justified himself shortly after.
One of the grayest pages of his mandate was the trip to Moscow in 2021, a few months before the start of the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin cornered him and Sergey Lavrovthe Russian Foreign Minister and described as a bulldog, bit and humiliated him in a press conference in which he equated the independence leaders of the processes with the opponent Alexei Navalny. This episode not only highlighted the very low moment that bilateral relations between Russia and the European Union were going through, but also left Borrell in a very bad place, accused of being clumsy, of not anticipating the blow and of allowing himself to be overwhelmed. “We must face the challenges, including meeting others on their own playing field“, he defended upon his return amidst strong criticism.
The reality is that the historic socialist’s time in Brussels has not left anyone indifferent. The cold relationship he has maintained with his boss is well known, Ursula von der Leyenwith which he has agreed in his approach and absolute closure of ranks with Ukraine but with which he has clashed due to the “hypocritical” management regarding the genocide in Gaza. From the Left they have accused Borrell of promote belligerent speech with his continuous calls to send more and better weapons to kyiv.
“This helplessness and passivity [en Gaza]in contrast to our commitment to Ukraine, has often been perceived outside the Union as a sign of double standards: in the eyes of Europeans, the life of a Palestinian is not worth as much as that of a Ukrainian. The vast majority of EU citizens do not share this, but it is an idea widely perceived by the countries of the so-called Global South,” he acknowledges in his latest blog post.
At the Berlaymont a line has been imposed that does not allow criticism or nuances: support for Ukraine and silence with Israel. Despite this, Borrell has been one of the few European voices that has spoken openly against the violations of human rights and International Law committed by the ranks led by the ultra Benjamin Netanyahu. “Before the war, Gaza was the largest open-air prison in the world. Today it is the largest open-air cemetery in the world,” he once stated. “Everyone goes to Tel Aviv to beg them to protect civilians and not kill so many. How many is so many? Netanyahu doesn’t listen to anyone. He asks to evacuate the Gazans, where, to the Moon?” other.
One of his pending subjects – and perhaps the most painful for him – is the European inaction in the face of the Israeli massacre and the collapse of the rules of global order. Borrell himself has criticized the cynicism of acting or not depending on whether the person who activates the bombs against defenseless civilians is called Vladimir or Benjamin. The Spanish diplomat has unsuccessfully requested – due to the resistance of the majority of member states – an arms embargo on Israel, sanctions against the most extremist ministers who have encouraged genocide or freezing relations with Tel Aviv.
Many capitals are happy to get him out of the way, they consider that he has exceeded his duties. Governments want someone docile, who does not meddle too much, who simply executes and spreads the common line. The position of High Representative is a poisoned candy. It has a lot of potential, but little room for maneuver, since European foreign policy is set by the 27 countries unanimously. Despite this, Borrell has acted as loose verse on many occasions, angering many capitals. Its predecessor, the Italian Federica Mogheriniwas much more restrained. Borrell has shaken European diplomacy helped by a volatile global context that has given him the opportunity to be on the front line. He has been replaced this Sunday by the Estonian Kaja Kallas, who has made it clear that her obsession is to defend the eastern flank and stand up to Putin.
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