European diplomacy takes time. She has assets (Reynders)
(BRUSSELS2) Taking advantage of his presence at Bozar (as part of the "reinventing Europe" forum of the Nouvel Obs) at a debate on the financial policy of the European Union, I asked Didier Reynders, the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, what he thought of the theme "public diplomacy, a disaster announced" which had just taken place.
No it's not a disaster
For him, it is a bogus trial that is being brought against the European Diplomatic Service. " To say that it is an announced disaster. It is wrong to say that. Setting up a European diplomacy is a process that takes time. The European External Action Service (EEAS) is barely three years old. In three years, you cannot build a diplomacy. » And to compare How long did it take Belgium in 1831 (at the creation of the Belgian State) to have a diplomacy? ».
Getting the States to agree, not easy
The difficulty is to bring the States to agreement on a daily basis. Even on simple questions, it takes time. " On the situation in the Congo, for example, which did not really cause any difficulties, it took three days before we could have a press release, the time to go around the capitals and to have the agreement of the "28" States members. (...) We cannot therefore attribute everything to Catherine Ashton. She does what is necessary. »
Time to build diplomacy
For him, there are already results. " The European Union is already present all over the world. » Another interest, it has incorporated national diplomats within its ranks. " This is a good thing. The European institutions cannot live in isolation. “It could be an example for the European Commission” He added.
Diversity is a good thing
For Didier Reynders, this process of openness, of mixing interests is necessary, but takes time. “I remember for the European Central Bank. In the beginning, with Wim Duisenberg, a Dutchman, it was not easy. He was defending his territory. Which is all logical. The ECB had just been born. Then with Trichet, things improved and with Draghi, finally, the ECB remains independent but it listens. We work together. »
