Ex-EU Foreign Chief Says Bloc Unfit for Today's World

(MENAFN) Former European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned Friday that the EU is structurally unfit to navigate today's rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape, saying the bloc has steadily lost its footing on the world stage due to decision-making mechanisms that have long outlived their purpose.

"This European Union, the one we have, was not designed for the world in which we live today," Borrell told a Belgian broadcaster, arguing that the bloc's requirement for unanimous agreement among member states paralyzes its ability to act swiftly on pressing global crises.

"The decision-making rules are not compatible with the acceleration of history. We continue to want to decide unanimously on events that are happening too fast, very important, and we almost never reach an agreement," he said.

Borrell was unsparing in his assessment of the bloc's dwindling international clout, stating flatly: "We are not very relevant to international politics." He attributed this erosion to persistent divisions among member states that routinely prevent the EU from projecting a coherent, unified voice on major global developments.

Arguing that the bloc can no longer afford to move at the pace of its most hesitant members, Borrell made a forceful case for a two-speed Europe — a deeper integration among a willing core of nations operating independently of the full 27-member body.

"We need to build a Union within the Union. A Union within the Union means that with 27 members, even with unanimity, we won't go any further. We're held back. With 27, we won't accomplish much. So we need to find another core group. Not the 27," he said.

"A few who truly want to move forward with political, economic, and military integration. We need to build a Union within the Union so that those who want to can go further, faster," Borrell added.

The former top diplomat also renewed his criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza and the West Bank, aligning himself with Spain's stance and directly challenging the legal basis for Israel's war on Iran, which he deemed "illegal."

"Either you care about international law, you worry about it, or you couldn't care less. But if you are committed to respecting international law, this war does not respond to an imminent threat, whatever Trump says. It was not authorized by the Security Council," Borrell said.

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