Consolidating peace, cooperation

There has been some controversy over a recent speech the EU High Representative and Vice President Josep Borrell gave to students at the College of Europe. Part of what he said was taken out of context and given a certain spin in some media. In his speech, Borrell described the profound transformation affecting our world, including but not limited to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which we as European diplomats need to take into account in our daily work. His use of the “jungle metaphor” was in reference to those who violate the rule of law and long-established international policies.

War is back in Europe, and it is the gravest threat to European security in decades. Our vision of a world governed by multilateral rules is under threat, and we are doing all we can to uphold it.

The message is clear: Might does not make right. Never did. Never will. Increasingly, we are witnessing a world of power politics in which interdependencies, such as energy and information, are weaponized. This is the “jungle” we do not accept, and as the EU we must adjust accordingly our response and stance as a geopolitical actor.

Now, on the “garden” remark. Borrell has always spoken out against a “Fortress Europe” approach and has been strongly engaged in advancing relations with other parts of the world, including Latin America, Africa, Asia and, most recently, the Gulf, as evidenced by the new EU strategic partnership with the Gulf unveiled in May.

As Europeans, we must commit ourselves more to the rest of the world and continue to promote together freedom and the rule of law, which are today under threat. We must stay engaged and not isolate ourselves.

The EU has always supported those suffering from war and conflict.

We are now welcoming refugees from Ukraine just as we are continuing to provide shelters and assistance for Syrians, Afghans, Yemenis and Eritreans fleeing danger.

The EU and its member states also represent the largest providers of development aid worldwide with a strong track record of support to all vulnerable people, regardless of their religion, nationality, ethnicity or skin color.

For decades, the EU has been cementing peace and cooperation among previously warring parties and showing a shared commitment to multilateral rules and laws. “United in diversity” is not just our motto; it is also our roadmap.

Inclusion has always been vital to the development of the EU and to our European society at large. Europe has rich cultural diversity, celebrates its cultural ties and brings people of different backgrounds and nationalities together.

The EU is firmly opposed to any form of contempt or racism toward anyone. In his speech, Borrell told young Europeans not to barricade themselves in a world of relative comfort, nor protect themselves by building walls, but to engage with the rest of the world, with an open spirit, looking at it the way it is.