Public Appeal by European
Security and Foreign Policy Experts:
Josep Borrell has a track record
of accommodating the Kremlin’s positions over those of the European Union, and therefore
should not lead EU foreign policy
In light of the Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Georgia
and Ukraine, together with its interference in European democracies via malign
disinformation operations, cyber-attacks, support for extremist groups, and
even a military-grade chemical attack on EU soil, we have been disappointed by the weak
performance of outgoing EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, who has consistently
appeased the Kremlin during her time in office and failed to adequately confront
its hostile behaviour towards Europe.
On Tuesday, July 2nd, the European Council nominated Spanish Foreign
Minister Josep Borrell as the next EU High Representative for Foreign and
Security Policy.
However, during his 12-month tenure as Spanish Foreign Minister, Mr.
Borrell’s posture towards Russia has raised serious concerns at least on three
separate occasions:
1) In November 2018, Mr. Borrell agreed with
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that Spain and Russia would set up a
joint cyber-security working group to address disinformation, ignoring the fact
that Russia is the number one source of hostile foreign disinformation in
Europe. Although the EU has an official
counter-disinformation strategy and a dedicated team of experts devoted to exposing
Russia’s disinformation efforts, Mr. Borrell instead chose to team up with the
Kremlin, contradicting the positions of both the European
Council and the European
Parliament.
2) In November 2018, despite the opposition
of NATO allies and the Spanish opposition, Mr. Borrell aided the Russian
military when he was among the Spanish ministers who allowed Russian ships to
refuel in Spanish ports after they bombed Syria.
3) In June 2019, Mr. Borrell praised
Russian President Vladimir Putin for Russia’s position on Catalonia,
despite the EU’s expert institution on disinformation publicly
warning about Russian interference in the Catalan referendum, and despite agreement
by EU foreign ministers to step up the European Union’s efforts to counter
Russian disinformation following this interference.
On these three occasions, Mr. Borrell has effectively sided with the Russian
Federation on major geopolitical and security issues, in direct contradiction
with the positions of the EU or Spain’s allies.
We believe that someone who has repeatedly failed to confront the Russian
security threat to the EU and who has a track record of siding with Russia
instead of EU allies should not be in charge of the EU’s foreign and security
policy. If Josep Borrell becomes the new High Representative for Foreign and
Security Policy, Russia will be encouraged, not deterred, in its hostile
activities and attempts to destabilise Europe. Accordingly, we urge European
leaders and the European Parliament to reconsider Mr. Borrell’s nomination.
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