DISINFO: Borrell: the EU’s foreign policy is a failure
SUMMARY
[J. Borrell. admits that] the EU’s foreign policy has failed. It has set the whole world against Western countries. The lack of unity costs the EU dearly in the Arab world, as well as in many countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia. The EU has been unable to stop the military conflict in the Gaza Strip, despite its close relations with Israel. The EU needs to do everything to prevent the consolidation of the alliance ‘the rest against the West’.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the EU's allegedly failed foreign policy. This claim was made in the context of HRVP Josep Borrell’s recent blog titled ‘Three work strands to better protect Europe.’
Josep Borrell did not say in his article the EU’s foreign policies had failed. In his blog, he analysed the current international situation, reviewed the EU’s role in global issues and put forth some proposals on how to make the EU’s international policy more efficient.
Borrell pondered on how to strengthen European economic security, move defence to the heart of European policies, and work in order to prevent the ‘rest against the West.’ He pointed to some miscalculations in EU foreign policies, especially in the Middle East, and called for searching ways to straighten them out.
HRVP Josep Borrell said at the end of his blog: ‘We need to act decisively in the coming months to prevent the consolidation of an alliance of “the rest against the West”, including as a consequence of the Middle East conflict. To effectively countering this threat, we need to stay true to our principles. Everywhere. Not just in words, but also by using our tools when those principles are violated. The decisiveness we demonstrated on Ukraine, should guide us in any other part of the world.’
The EU is a unique economic and political union of 27 European countries that together cover much of the continent. The EU plays a crucial role in supporting peace and stability, as well as in promoting international cooperation and respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law around the world. The EU is the world's largest trading bloc and the world's biggest donor of development aid. The EU is also the world's biggest exporter of manufactured goods and services, and it is the biggest import market for over 100 countries. The EU was at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19, helping neighbouring countries and regions worldwide to tackle the pandemic.
Read more about the EU's response to the pandemic here. See similar disinformation cases claiming that Josep Borrell recognised Russia's victory in the war against Ukraine, that The EU is against democracy in Africa, and that Borrell is the US' and Bilderberg Club's colonial manager for Europe.