(B2) The corridors of the European Parliament are buzzing with the revolt of the European People's Party (EPP) against High Representative Josep Borrell. In question, the sending of a " secret mission of negotiations in Caracas at the end of September. Is it justified?
Spanish Catalan MEP from the popular party Dolors Montserrat is leading the charge against her compatriot Josep Borrell (credit: European Parliament, 7.10.2020)
What does the EPP blame Josep Borrell for?
For the members of the Christian-Democratic group in the European Parliament, " EU High Representative Josep Borrell cannot send secret mission to dictator without consultation “, declare the deputies Antonio Tajani, Paulo Rangel and Dolors Montserrat (1).
This mission does that legitimize Maduro not recognized by the EU as the leader of Venezuela, and the elections organized by his regime », is alarmed the Italian Antonio Tajani (Forza Italia), former President of the European Parliament and former European Commissioner. “The simple postponement of the elections without any conditions compromises at the same time the other political demands of the EU in Venezuela. »
This mission " has not been discussed with or endorsed by the leaders of the democratic forces, including the country's legitimate interim president, Juan Guaidó “, adds the Portuguese Paulo Rangel (PSD). It is " a strategic and political mistake “, gets carried away the Spaniard, Dolors Montserrat who drives the point home. That " weakens the position of the EU vis-à-vis the Venezuelan regime and whitewashes the totalitarian regime of Maduro. We demand that the reasons for sending such a mission be perfectly clear “says the one who shares with Josep Borrell to be from Catalonia.
What was the purpose of this mission?
A high-level EU mission was, in fact, sent to Venezuela at the end of September with the aim of negotiating with Nicolás Maduro a possible postponement of the legislative elections scheduled for December 6, 2020, as publicly acknowledged by the diplomatic service. European Union (EEAS) in a communicated. A postponement totally justified because the EU considers these elections invalid. " The conditions are not currently met for a free, fair and democratic electoral process to take place. Moreover, the Europeans have given up, for the same reasons, on sending an EU election observation mission.
Should the High Representative consult the opposition?
When you conduct negotiations, you don't start consulting the adversary. The European Union will not, for example, ask permission from the Libyan leader Al-Sarraj (recognized by the international community) to meet his adversary (not recognized by the EU), General Haftar. Same in Belarus. If we have to meet A. Lukashenko to confront him with the European reality, we don't ask permission from his opponents, even if the EU recognizes them as legitimate. This rule is invented by the PPE for the needs of the circumstance. It has no legal basis (in the Treaties) nor political or even diplomatic justification.
Is this protest justified?
No. Clearly not. A diplomat's job is, sometimes, to proclaim a position loud and clear. This is the role of the official declarations published by the High Representative of the EU, in his own name or in the name of the whole European Union. But it is above all, and above all, that of sending messages to the main parties concerned. Meeting Venezuela's current president, Nicolas Maduro, is part of the job. This is not only legitimate for a European diplomat. But not to do so would be a strategic mistake ". In the same way, it is not forbidden to go and see the Belarusian, Turkish or Russian leaders, or the various Libyan parties to the conflict, even if we do not really share their point of view. On the contrary. It is the very role of a diplomat to discuss with all those, even the worst, to convey messages and take the pulse of the adversary. If the diplomat doesn't do it, who will? And, in general, discretion must prevail, precisely to avoid any legitimization. An official visit would have the opposite effect: consecrate official power.
What do you think of the EPP diatribe?
Let's be clear and direct. This protest has an essential origin: the Spanish People's Party which is leading a personal vengeance against the European representative Josep Borrell who has the great wrong in their eyes to be from the PSOE (the Spanish Socialist Party). We are there in a settling of national scores (Dolors Montserrat was a member of Parliament for Barcelona), rather than in the desire to perfect European policy. This taking to task, in public opinion, is unfortunate and harmful.
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
If I had to do it again, I would do it again (Josep Borrell)
The High Representative of the EU, Josep Borrell, remains combative. " If I had to do it again, I would! We didn't win, but we had to try “, as he said to MEPs, mostly Spanish, who challenged him in Parliament this Wednesday (October 7) in plenary in Brussels. " Would I have sent the same mission to Belarus? Yes of course ! Andt if tomorrow we could send someone to engage in a national dialogue. Yes we would! »
(NGV with ES in the European Parliament)
Read the communicated of the EPP group published this Wednesday 7.10 in the morning
The speech of Josep Borrell's intervention in the European Parliament
Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).
