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European Foreign Policy in Times of Covid-19 6 European Foreign Policy in Times of Covid-19

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European Foreign Policy in Times of Covid-19 6 European Foreign Policy in Times of Covid-19 JOSEP BORRELL FONTELLES Photo credits: Cover photo: iStock.com/ThomasVogel; EU on pages: 31, 41, 69, 83, 150, 243, 247; M.Moira/Shutterstock.com page 21; NicoElNino/ Shutterstock.com page 23; iStock.com/MarianVejcik page 34; iStock.com/selimaksan page 47; ungvar/ Shutterstock.com page 57; martinbertrand.fr/Shutterstock.com page 62; Lee Nanjoo/ Shutterstock.com page 73; Skorzewiak/Shutterstock.com page 75; rawf8/Shutterstock.com page 78; AnnaStills/Shutterstock.com page 78; AnnaStills/Shutterstock.com page 85; mccv/Shutterstock.com page 92; lev radin/Shutterstock.com page 96; Novikov Aleksey/Shutterstock.com page 100; iStock.com/ LewisTsePuiLung page 113; iStock.com/AntiMartina page 132; Drop of Light /Shutterstock.com page 135; EUCAP Sahel Niger page 153; iStock.com/FooTToo page 167; iStock.com/B4LLS page 173; M.Moira/ Shutterstock.com page 179; hyotographics/Shutterstock.com page 189; anasalhajj/Shutterstock.com page 194; Nady Sokhn/Shutterstock.com page 200; Alex_Bar/Shutterstock.com page 207; Ajdin Kamber/ Shutterstock.com page 223; Flag World/Shutterstock.com page 236; iStock.com/frederikloewer page 253; Tawin Mukdharakosa/Shutterstock.com page 264; iStock.com/DNY59 page 271; fizkes/Shutterstock.com page 280. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2021 Print ISBN 978-92-9238-927-7 doi:10.2871/720740 OF-04-20-740-EN-C PDF ISBN 978-92-9238-928-4 doi:10.2871/111013 OF-04-20-740-EN-N © European Union, 2021 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Printed by Bietlot in Belgium Printed on elemental chlorine-free bleached paper (ECF) JOSEP BORRELL FONTELLES High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission EUROPEAN FOREIGN POLICY IN TIMES OF COVID-19 6 EUROPEAN FOREIGN POLICY IN TIMES OF COVID-19 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 9 2020, European foreign policy in times of COVID-19 9 1. THE CASE FOR A STRONG EUROPEAN FOREIGN POLICY 15 Is Europe too divided to have a foreign policy? 16 Europe’s hard and soft power 22 How do we ensure Europe is able to act? 27 The way to go for a united, resilient and sovereign Europe 32 European strategic complacency is not an option 35 The EEAS at 10: for Europe, worldwide 39 2. EU RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC 43 A global “battle of narratives” 44 A “Hamiltonian moment” for Europe? 48 COVID-19, its consequences and the European response 52 How COVID-19 is reshaping the world 58 Debt: the urgent need for a global recovery initiative 64 “Team Europe”: how the EU is supporting partner countries 69 We need a stronger World Health Organisation 74 No to vaccine nationalism, yes to vaccine multilateralism 77 Education must not fall victim to COVID-19 82 3. THE EU, GLOBAL POWERS, NEW EMPIRES AND MULTILATERALISM 87 Let’s make the most of the new chapter in EU-US relations 89 The events in Washington on 6 January 2021 and what they mean for Europe 93 CONTENTS 7 Trust and reciprocity: the necessary ingredients for EU-China cooperation 98 China carbon neutrality in 2060: a possible game changer for climate 102 The Sinatra doctrine: how the EU should deal with the US–China competition 107 Europe in the face of the “new empires” 119 The way ahead after a difficult year 2020 for EU–Turkey relations 122 The urgency to revive multilateralism 129 The EU stands with the United Nations 134 We need straight-talk and determined action on democracy 138 The complex road towards an EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime 143 4. BUILDING SECURITY THE EUROPEAN WAY 147 Operation IRINI to enforce Libya arms embargo 148 Together for the security and stability of the Sahel 151 We need to fight Islamist terrorism together 155 Saving the Iran nuclear deal 158 Space, the new frontier of global politics 162 Cyber sanctions: time to act 168 The essential fight against disinformation and manipulation 171 Defence cooperation: how strategic perseverance will pay off 176 5. EU FOREIGN POLICY AROUND THE GLOBE 181 The challenges of the western Mediterranean 183 Libya: a glimmer of hope? 188 Syria: we will continue to do our part 192 Let us nurture the EU-Israel relationship, not gamble it 196 Helping rebuild Beirut and Lebanon 199 The Eastern Partnership is at the heart of EU foreign policy 203 Belarusians courageously demand democratic change 206 The EU continues to stand with the people of Belarus 211 8 EUROPEAN FOREIGN POLICY IN TIMES OF COVID-19 Ukraine: reforms must continue 214 From Dayton to Brussels: working for a stable and democratic Bosnia and Herzegovina 218 Bosnia and Herzegovina: the migration crisis is far from over 221 A new start for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue 226 Let’s strengthen our ties with Africa 228 Demonstrating Europe’s commitment to Africa 233 The Nile and beyond: geopolitics of water 237 Placing culture at the heart of our dialogue with Africa 244 Latin America-Europe: the ‘other’ transatlantic relationship 248 Venezuela: the clear urgency of a political and democratic solution 254 Strengthening EU-ASEAN partnership, an urgent necessity 259 The EU–ASEAN strategic partnership: how did that happen? 264 The Asian Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP): what does it mean for the EU? 268 India, a key partner for Europe 273 Why EU-Pakistan relations are so important for us 275 Demography and Europe in the world 279 CONCLUSION 284 2021, a year that promises to be equally challenging 284 ANNEX 286 Global events and key activities during first year of mandate 286 IntroDuction 9 INTRODUCTION 2020, EUROPEAN FOREIGN POLICY IN TIMES OF COVID-19 Since I took up my duties as High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP) in December 2019, much has happened and I could not have imagined the extraordinary circumstances the EU and its foreign policy certainly would face. Political battles are won or lost depending on how issues are framed. It therefore matters how we describe and analyse our changing world and what this means for Europeans collectively. This has been the wider rationale for writing regularly a blog (1) and other articles, now collected here. With this book, I would like to present an account of the key milestones that marked this exceptional year as seen through my HR/VP glasses. ‘Mission impossible’? During my hearing as Commissioner designate in the European Parliament (EP) in October 2019, a Member of Parliament asked me if I realised that I was a candidate for a ‘mission impossible’. A meaningful question. The HR/VP position has existed since 2009, when the Lisbon Treaty came into force, and this year we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the European External Action Service (EEAS), the specific service created then to support the High Representative and the EU’s external action. (1) The texts collected in this book are also available on my personal blog, A window on the World (https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/77199/window-world-personal- blog-hrvp-josep-borrell_en). 10 EUROPEAN FOREIGN POLICY IN TIMES OF COVID-19 Although it is not a ‘mission impossible’, it is certainly a difficult one. I was well aware of the complexities associated with the HR/VP position, since I was a member of the Convention on the Future of the EU, which proposed this new post in 2003. To promote synergies between the High Representative, reporting to the Council, and the Commissioner for External Relations, the Convention decided to merge the two posts. That is the reason why the HR/VP has a ‘double hat’: he or she is appointed by the European Council with the agreement of the President of the Commission. As member of the Commission, he or she is also subject to a European Parliament hearing and the EP’s vote of approval of the College of Commissioners. The High Representative chairs the monthly council meetings of foreign affairs ministers, striving for consensus on foreign policy priorities, and on security and defence issues, when the defence ministers meet. Within the Commission, the HR/ VP is in charge of coordinating the different aspects of the EU’s external action that are fully or partially community policies (e.g. trade, development, neighbourhood policy and humanitarian aid). In addition to the EEAS, the HR/VP is supported also by the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), responsible for managing the budget of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and other specific financial instruments, including the recently created European Peace Facility. Therefore, being HR/VP involves almost as much ‘internal diplomacy’ as external one. Europe has been built from the outset on a dual approach, both intergovernmental and supranational, and the HR/VP is at the heart of this duality, complexity and ambiguity. A geopolitical Commission The structurally high level of expectations for the HR/VP position has been increased by the specific ambition articulated by President von der Leyen for our Commission. ‘We must be aware that our internal and external work are two sides of the same coin. What we do at home will affect our place in the world and will shape relations with our strategic partners and competitors. This is why we must be a Geopolitical Commission,’ she wrote in my mission letter. I am very pleased to work under the leadership of a President who has this level of ambition and this clear understanding of the role of the European Union in the world. IntroDuction 11 An abrupt start My experience as former President of the European Parliament and Spanish foreign minister had given me a good knowledge of most of the issues at stake and ideas about of how to deal with them.
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