Viorica Dancila, Donald Trump's little poodle who betrays the European spirit
(B2) The words of the Romanian Prime Minister, Viorica Dancila, in Washington announcing the move of the Romanian Embassy to Jerusalem (read: The Romanian government announces the move of its embassy to Israel. An embarrassing 'see you soon in Jerusalem') is a serious act. A betrayal of the letter and the spirit of a presidency of the European Union.
A serious breach of European solidarity
This act is serious. It reveals a multiple betrayal. On the one hand, the Prime Minister announces abroad a decision as recorded. This is causing a stir in Romania. The president being, constitutionally, the decision-maker in the matter. On the other hand, it deliberately breaks a common European position, repeated many times, whether by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs or the Heads of State and Government of the '28' (1). A position that can be summed up in an axiom: Jerusalem will be the captain of two states, at the end of a peace process, or it will not be a capital.
A betrayal of the role of neutrality of the EU presidency
But above all, as the Union presidency in office, the Romanian Prime Minister goes beyond her duties. His speech before the American Jewish associations was well assured (and presented) as 'Presidency of the Council of the European Union in office'. Instead, Viorica Dancila should have had the courage to express the European position — the refusal to move the capitals to Jerusalem until a peace agreement was reached — and put her opinions, personal or official, under a bushel. The closing remarks of his speech 'see you soon in Jerusalem' is too much.
A sweet Donald Trump doggie
By doing this, she no doubt wanted to be seen not only by Israelis but especially by Donald Trump and the hardest clan of Republicans. This act is a serious deviation and a betrayal of the role assigned to the EU Presidency. V. Dancila has therefore lost much of his credibility on the European and international scene.
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
(1) Explicitly at the European summit in December 2017 (read: Jerusalem: at the European Council, the 28 reiterate their position).
