On the Middle East the European Union starts at the short circuit. For a very simple reason, moreover the usual: the Member States have opposite visions on which line to keep with Israel (and to a lesser extent with the United States) and therefore go in scattered order, paralyzing Brussels. In front of Donald Trump who asks for the “unconditional surrender” of Iran the EU stammer, remembering that “the change of regime” does not fall into the “agreed” position between the 27. What can I say about the words of the German Chancellor Frederich Merz, According to which Israel is “dirty work” on behalf of his allies? A dry no comment.
The common line, the result of the usual compromises, provides for the appeal to “moderation”, the “return” to the negotiating table of Iran to find an agreement on nuclear power (which was already there but was torn by Trump), diplomacy as “the only way”, the right of Israel “to one’s safety and the defense” as well as an invitation “to both sides” to respect “international law”. The high representative Kaja Kallas is in his way unbalanced by boiling as counterproductive the possible intervention of the USA in the conflict And that now, for Europe, “a new role” could be opened. Moving from words to deeds, however, is very difficult. The first useful stage is next Monday, with the Foreign Affairs Council, preparatory to the European Council on Thursday and, to a lesser extent, at the NATO Summit at Wednesday. The aggravation of the conflict between Israel and Iran hovers on Europe, with the spectrum of the descent in the field of the USA (perhaps without even noting partners) in one of those days.
As if that’s not enough, that’s not all. On Monday, in fact, on the table of foreign ministers the revision of the EU-Israel Association treaty on the basis of compliance with article 2, the one on human rights will arrive. The outcome is obvious: the violation. But what will happen later? Hungary, to say, blocks the adoption of sanctions against Hamas and against violent Israeli colonists (if the issue is not resolved by the ministers, ensures a diplomatic source, it will move on to the leaders to the European Council). That something definitive emerges from the foreign council on the conduct to be held with Israel on Gaza by virtue of the violations of the basic principles of the association treaty is fantasy. It is likely that the dossier-kallas land on the leader’s table, who in turn will invite the foreign council to adopt ‘certain’ measures and that, finally, the ball returns to the ministers in July, no longer to evaluate but to act.
The former Estonian premier, who ended up on the graywood at the European Parliament during the debate on “stopping the genocide in Gaza” by alleged inaction, literally blurted out. “Talk as if I were the only one responsible for what happens to Gaza,” he vented. “But I do not represent myself here but the 27 Member States: if it was up to me to personally decide a decision I would make it instead I cannot because it is needed unanimity », he underlined referring precisely to the theme of sanctions to violent settlers. “This is my frustration and if I brought the proposal to the Council maybe I would feel better but I know that it would not pass and show our division,” he said, visibly disturbed.