Former EU foreign policy chief says EU still ‘not up to par’ on Middle East

Fomer EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the EU remains “not up to par” in addressing the Middle East, criticizing the bloc’s response to the war in Gaza and its failure to put meaningful pressure on Israel, Anadolu reports.

In an interview with EIMed, Borrell reflected on the EU’s foreign policy record, saying that while the bloc responded decisively to Russia’s war in Ukraine, “in the Middle East, on the other hand, we were not up to par, and we still are not.”

“The (European) Commission overstepped its bounds in the EU’s foreign policy by sending (President Ursula) Von der Leyen to Israel to express her unconditional support for (Israeli President Benjamin) Netanyahu,” he said.

“And it refused to review the Association Agreement with Israel, despite requests from Spain and Ireland in light of flagrant violations of international law.”

Borrell said peace efforts need to be broadened to support the two-state solution in both societies, particularly in Israeli society