Facing Russia, and arms delivery to Syria, EU mezzo vocce

(BRUSSELS2) On the eve of the EU-Russia Summit, the European Union is playing mezzo voice on the question of the delivery of arms to Syria. This is at least the feeling that one can have when listening to the answers of the European Commission that I questioned during the "midday mass", the traditional question-and-answer session in front of the press.

The Commission does not want to make the issue a subject

The spokeswoman for JM Barroso, the President of the Commission, Pia Ahrenkilde initially sought to evade the question, claiming that everything had already been said... on Friday. In fact, she was referring to an "off" briefing (which is not an official response since it cannot be quoted). The Commission does not really intend to insist on this subject when there are so many other points to discuss: commercial relations, and also data protection. The Russians (like the Americans before) require the communication of the personal data of the passengers of the European airline companies. A way to maintain security, they claim. An iron in the European position, can we specify. The Russians excelling in the art of always finding, on the eve of an EU-Russia summit, an embarrassing point which shakes up the conditions of the negotiation.

Don't make the situation worse

On the side of the High Representative of the EU, the tone is clearer. " This question will indeed be addressed tonight and tomorrow. I can't prejudge what will be said said his spokesperson, Michael Mann. " Our priority is the political process; we support the Russian-American initiative for Geneva 2” he added. " We call on all stakeholders to do nothing to make this situation, which is already very serious, even more serious, and to avoid an increase in violence..” But we remain in the political word. The possibility of retaliatory measures if Russia continues to deliver arms to Syria is therefore not mentioned at this stage.