As violence escalates in the Middle East, the European Union remains remarkably absent from meaningful intervention. Nathalie Tocci’s column for the Guardian argues that the EU is overly focused on internal issues and is failing to adress escalating conflicts.
Despite its role a decade ago in brokering the Iran nuclear deal, the EU now seems disengaged from global crises. Nathalie Tocci, in her column for the Guardian argues that while the EU has managed internal coherence after recent European Parliament elections, its foreign policy, particularly towards the global south, is weak and inward-looking.
She writes:
“When it comes to the global south, however, Europe seems at a total loss, viewing much of the world as nothing but a source of unwanted migrants to be kept out. It wasn’t always like this. Only a decade ago, the EU was instrumental in brokering the Iran nuclear deal. Now, it is absent from attempts to stave off a regionalwar in the Middle East, with the exception of France’s (failed) attempt, together with the US, to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
And little is being done or even considered to improve the EU’s relationships with the global south, even though pure self-interest requires a revamp. This is worse than neglect: it reflects a broader trend towards a more closed-minded and xenophobic Europe that threatens to fundamentally transform the European project.
Von der Leyen is appointing a new commissioner for the Mediterranean, but this seems essentially residual given the (absolutely necessary) appointment of a commissioner in charge of expanding the bloc. Other than managing highly problematic migration deals with a few north African states, and perhaps buying a few more such agreements in the coming years, it’s unclear what Europe’s policy towards north Africa actually is. There is also a commissioner for international partnerships, who will be focusing mainly on Africa. But given the protectionist mood in Brussels, and the growing belief that partnerships should be pursued transactionally in pursuit of EU interests (was it ever done differently?), it is unclear how much additional traction the EU will actually have in Africa.
So far, the EU has overpromised – for instance its €300bn global gateway initiative – and underdelivered. It has also been shockingly oblivious to the outcry in many countries of the global south to the protectionist effects of EU legislation, such as its carbon border adjustment mechanism and its flagship deforestation regulation. Both measures have a sound internal logic. Yet they were discussed and approved with hardly any external consultation, with potentially damaging effects on several African, Asian and Latin American countries.
All this is happening while there is no end in sight to the destruction of Gaza. Violence mounts in the West Bank, and Israel has moved to all-out war against Lebanon (and perhaps Iran). After months of division on the question of a ceasefire in Gaza, the EU is in agreement that there should be one, but hardly any members are willing to do anything about it – for instance, by suspending arms sales to Israel. There will be even less appetite for this in light of direct confrontation between Israel and Iran.
At the UN general assembly, where the vast majority of countries worldwide backed a resolution supporting the international court of justice’s opinion demanding Israel’s compliance with international law in the occupied Palestinian territory, Europe’s show was pitiful once again: 13 countries voted in favour, 12 abstained and two – Hungary and the Czech Republic – voted against the resolution. Time and time again, Europe is given the opportunity to turn the page, and to start rebuilding its reputation in the global south. At every turn, it misses the opportunity.”
You can read the full article here.