#EU foreign policy

[head-post]

EU to join the US operation in the Red Sea

The European Union said on Wednesday that member states would contribute to the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian, aimed at protecting merchant shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Houthi rebels from Yemen.

Josep Borrell, the EU’s top foreign policy official, commented on the EU’s involvement in Operation on X:

Irresponsible Houthi actions are a threat to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. We will intensify our information sharing and increase our presence with additional naval assets. This demonstrates the EU’s role as a maritime security provider. We match words with action.

Read more HERE

[latestnews-now]

EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, calls for immediate peace efforts in the Middle East. At a key conference in Cyprus, he pushes for a Gaza ceasefire and promotes the two-state solution as a path to lasting peace. Learn about his diplomatic mission in Lebanon and the EU's stance on international justice. Can diplomacy succeed amidst the rising tensions? Watch now to find out.

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[trendynewsnow]

Engaging with Iran: Insights from Hannah Neumann on EU Policies and Regional Stability

Engaging with Iran: A Conversation with Hannah Neumann Hannah Neumann, the head of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Iran, has articulated her commitment to fostering dialogue not only with the Iranian parliament but also with the Iranian populace, who are yearning for transformation and enduring peace. A seasoned German politician with a deep understanding of Iranian…

[tinakp]

Send Indian Peacekeepers! Europe Keeps Killing Itself | General Günther Greindl

Europe needs some serious help from India, Africa, and South America to stop its constant warfare. Listen to the ideas of Austrian General Günther Greindl of how an Indian peacekeeping force could be part of the solution to the war in Ukraine.

[luminalunii97]

Another life was taken unfairly. And it will continue until they've murdered the better half of the arrested protesters.

I knew tweeting #stop executions is not going to stop the regime. We've done it all before. As long as they see the worse they could get for commiting genocide is a tweet from eu spokesman they're going to keep killing us in the streets, in our homes and in the prison. They're not even fired from women's committee in united nations, can you believe that? Well fuck the regime, and fuck the foreign politicians. There's another call for demonstration and there's going to be more deaths and arrests. Biden and Josep Borrell can buy popcorn and watch. We won't stop until the last one of us is murdered.

This is a tweet from an Iranian citizen that speaks all of our minds

[Image translation: For 43 years, the world powers waged fake war on mullahs based on their own benefits. Now they just condemn and sanction. When are they going to call their ambassadors home and fire mullahs' ambassadors?? Ok I get it, when this regime killed all 80 million of us they're going to make a statement and say "this regime is reformed now, they don't have any oppositions"!!! ]

[ctl-yuejie]

the projected results for germany are fucking dismal

[vyorei]

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian spoke with Josep Borrell today warning the conflict could expand across the Middle East if Apartheid Israel is not stopped

[cyatzura]

it's so disappointing how the current government in germany stressed again and again since 2021 that they wanted to follow a 'feminist foreign policy', a foreign policy that was supposed to focus increasingly on marginalized groups, human rights and a policy of peace, only to oppose the proposal that the european union should collectively demand a humanitarian ceasefire in gaza; instead, the european union now only calls for corridors and temporary pauses for humanitarian aid

[youthchronical]

Europe praises Trump's victory amid wider fears of an impending economic nightmare

Donald Trump (L), President of the USA, and Emmanuel Macron, President of France, join hands during the final press conference of the G7 Summit on 26 August 2019, in Biarritz, France. NurPhoto | NurPhoto | Getty Images European officials have been quick to congratulate Donald Trump after he defeated his Democratic rival Kamala Harris to return to the White House, despite a stark realization that…

[waermeflasche]

Honestly the thing I'm most scared about wrt the likely right-wing wins is that they'll sell us out to russia. Most right-wing parties in EU countries have proven again and again that despite the nationalism they're traitors who are willing to fuck us all over for russian money.

And controversial opinion maybe, but we should not have let them have all of the massive anti-immigration voting bloc. What we really, really would have needed are parties with a strong anti-immigration policy that's still very pro west and pro eu and hardline anti-russia.

Harm reduction and all.

[head-post]

Rampant anti-Semitism has French Jews in hiding

French Jews are forced to hide their names for fear of discrimination by couriers, taxi drivers, hairdressers and other service workers, GlobalEuroNews reports.

According to witnesses, since the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, people with Jewish names are increasingly being denied service, insulted or even physically assaulted.

Some French Jews change their accounts on platforms or remove their names from their mailboxes because of discrimination by drivers or couriers. There have been 1,500 anti-Semitic acts in the country since 7 October this year.

The results of a survey conducted in January 2022 showed that identifying as Jewish in public places in France is a risk factor and a potential for aggression. 74% of French people of Jewish religion or culture say they have at least once experienced anti-Semitic behaviour, ranging from ridicule to physical attacks. 48% of those surveyed sometimes do not risk saying they are Jewish, and 55% of parents ask their children not to wear any distinctive signs.

Learn more HERE

[falesten-iw]

What makes you react to what's happening in Gaza? and What makes you care about human lives? Is it empathy, ideology, culture, religion, knowledge, or something else that compels you to feel and act?

What would push your government to stop saying, "Israel has the right to defend itself"? What would make columnists stop focusing on self defense and what the demonstrators or students are doing "wrong" and instead use their platform to pressure their government to do what's "right" to stop this ongoing genocide? When did you start caring, and when will you start acting?

Is it when you have Palestinian friends?

When Palestinian children begged for food, safety, and water?

When over 45000 Palestinians had been killed & 98000 injured ?

When left-wing political parties around the world started criticizing Israel?

When Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations sounded the alarm for years?

When protesters took to the streets every week? Do you still hear their voices?

When human rights organizations like Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch documented the atrocities? Was 60 years of human rights violations not enough?

When journalism associations worldwide recorded an unprecedented number of journalists killed in such a short period?

When UN agencies like the World Food Program or UNRWA reported on the humanitarian disaster and worsening famine?

When aid organizations like Doctors Without Borders or the Red Cross warned of the total collapse of healthcare?

When child rights organizations like Save the Children or UNICEF constantly reported on children’s acute physical and mental health crises?

When Jewish groups like Jewish Voice for Peace declared, "Not in my name"?

When the International Criminal Court in The Hague found strong evidence of crimes against humanity and began prosecuting high-ranking officials? Are you waiting for the court to tell you act?

When your children were upset after hearing what was happening in Gaza? Did that stir your parental instincts?

When the EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, repeatedly urged Israel to stop the killings?

When your favorite artist spoke out—did that make you reflect?

When students protested at universities around the world? Does the passion of young people give you hope?

When the Pope made a statement about the situation?

When military experts reported how many bombs Israel had dropped on Gaza?

When 2.5 million people were displaced under bombardment, with nowhere to escape in Gaza—a place already called the world’s largest open-air prison even before October 7?

When your employer gave you permission to speak out?

Are you waiting for Joe Biden to say the red line has been crossed and stop sending weapons?

Or are you waiting for Donald Trump to say the magic words: "Enough is enough"?

Or for Benjamin Netanyahu to say "Oh sorry that was a mistake"?

Or are you waiting for God Almighty to come down and say, "Enough is enough"?

Or for the most extreme elements in the Israeli government to say, "Now we can stop bombing"—but will there be any Palestinians left in Gaza by then?

Or will you stop waiting and act now, driven by empathy, knowledge, and solidarity with people who are being oppressed right in fornt or your eyes?

I’ve lost over 200 family members, friends, and neighbors in this genocide. I have 24 of my family’s members and 2 orphaned children, trapped in a makeshift tent and struggling to survive in this freezing winter in Gaza. Is that not enough to move you to act? Tell me then when ?—when will your humanity compel you to step in? Please, act now and donate!

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[trendynewsnow]

Escalating Tensions in the Middle East and France's Economic Initiatives

Escalating Tensions in the Middle East The situation in Europe’s southeastern neighborhood escalated dramatically over the past week. Following two weeks of intense Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon and the targeted killing of the leader of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, Tehran retaliated decisively. At least 180 missiles were launched towards Tel Aviv and other strategic locations…

[xtruss]

War On Gaza: EU Must Sanction Isra-helli Officials Instead of Timidly Saying Please

If the Goal is Truly to Preserve Peace and International Security, Why Are European States Only Targeting the Palestinian Side with Sanctions?

— Chris Jones | 11 March 2024 | Middle East Eye

EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell Speaks in Brussels on 5 March 2024 (John Thys/AFP)

Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, last month said that the Biden administration’s continued provision of arms to Israel, while calling on the Israeli army to prevent civilian deaths in Gaza, is “a little bit contradictory”. Biden and other western leaders should “stop saying please” to the Israeli government and start “doing something”, Borrell added.

Yanis Varoufakis, the former Greek finance minister, accused Borrell of hypocrisy, given that EU member states - including France, Germany and Italy - continue to export arms to Israel.

But while EU member states have a common position on arms exports that is supposed to “prevent the export of military technology and equipment which might be used for internal repression or international aggression or contribute to regional instability”, Borrell has no power to enforce it.

Still, there is a method through which Borrell could apply pressure on Israel’s government - and he has so far failed to use it.

In January, Borrell signed off on a new EU sanctions regime targeting those who provide support for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas, the two groups responsible for the 7 October attacks. Those sanctioned face travel bans and asset freezes.

The new sanctions regime makes it possible to cast a wider net than existing rules. The European Council described the measures as allowing the EU to target “the sponsors of those who sponsor the two terrorist organisations”. Six individuals were put on the sanctions list when it was announced.

Despite initial reports of reluctance from the EU to introduce a new sanctions regime, the move was unsurprising. The use of sanctions has grown enormously over the last two decades, as states have sought new ways to advance foreign policy objectives.

The new regime follows the adoption of similar measures by the UK and US, and comes on the back of proposals from France, Germany and Italy for sanctions targeting Hamas.

'Decisive Steps'

Whether the new sanctions regime will be effective remains to be seen; the military wing of Hamas has been on the EU’s terrorist sanctions list since 2001, and its political wing since 2003. But what is most striking about the new sanctions is how they highlight the EU’s desire to condemn and punish some human rights violations, while ignoring - or even supporting - others.

Borrell said the new framework “shows that we are ready to take decisive steps to react to the brutality shown by terrorists on October 7. Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live in a just, lasting, and secure peace.” The European Council cited “the need to fight against violent actions that threaten peace and international security”.

This begs the question: why have no such measures been put in place against the Israeli government?

An indiscriminate bombing campaign and subsequent ground invasion of Gaza has killed, injured or left missing more than 100,000 Palestinians. Hundreds of children have lost a limb. Almost two million people have been displaced. Tens of thousands of buildings have been destroyed, and huge tracts of the territory have been left uninhabitable.

“If The EU 🇪🇺 and Its Member States Genuinely Want to 'Bring About a Change in Bad or Harmful Policies', They Must Do More Than Simply Ask the Isra-helli Government to Stop.”

Israeli government officials have made numerous statements that were used to demonstrate genocidal intent by the South African government in its case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The European Commission has said that Israel “must comply” with the ICJ’s preliminary ruling, although it was unclear how the EU would seek to enforce that, beyond polite requests.

The EU has no compunctions about sanctioning government officials or their allies. It currently has sanctions in place against Venezuelan, Russian and Iranian officials, among others. The bloc says it introduces sanctions with the aims of “promoting international peace and security; preventing conflicts; supporting democracy, the rule of law and human rights; and defending the principles of international law”.

It says its sanctions are “not punitive”, but rather aim “to bring about a change in bad or harmful policies or activities by targeting the non-EU countries, including organisations and individuals, responsible”.

Mealy-Mouthed Statements

It is evident that the Israeli government is pursuing policies and activities that are both “bad” and “harmful”. Indeed, the situation is so bad that the ICJ has found the government’s actions to be plausibly meeting the definition of genocide.

There is an evident need for change, and it appears unlikely that any such change will come from within Israel itself. There is still substantial domestic support for the war on Gaza, and the country’s government shows no signs of changing course. With none of Israel’s international allies putting meaningful pressure upon it to do so, why would it?

There is currently little to no incentive for Israel to halt the war, let alone even to consider ending the occupation, or pursue negotiations for meaningful, long-term peace for both Palestinians and Israelis.

If sanctions are required against Hamas to ensure peace and stability in the region, how is it that the same analysis does not apply to Israeli government officials who have ordered, directed and cheered on a military assault that leaves the prospects for peace buried under the same rubble as Palestinian children and their families?

It is utterly nonsensical and profoundly hypocritical for the EU, its member states, or any other government to continue talking about the need for peace and a two-state solution without taking any steps - beyond the occasional mealy-mouthed statements calling for restraint - to effect change.

It is often said that actions speak louder than words. In international politics, interests speak louder than principles. If the EU and its member states genuinely want to “bring about a change in bad or harmful policies”, they must do more than simply ask the Israeli government to stop. As Borrell himself put it: stop saying please and start doing something.

— Chris Jones is the Director of Statewatch, a Non-Profit Organization that Produces and Promotes Critical Research, Policy Analysis and Investigative Journalism to inform Debates, Movements and Campaigns on Civil liberties, Human Rights and Democratic Standards. He is writing here in a Personal Capacity.

[newsfrompeoplesmovement]

'Not for the EU to comment'

A Commission spokesperson has reaffirmed the bloc’s support to the ICJ but stopped short of backing the genocide case against Israel. “Regarding this specific case, countries have the right to submit cases or lawsuits. The European Union is not part of this lawsuit,” Peter Stano, spokesperson for foreign affairs, said “This is not for us to comment at all.” The tight-lipped response follows the…