webfact Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 EU must develop 'appetite for power', Borrell says FILE PHOTO: Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission arrives at a European Union foreign ministers emergency meeting to discuss ways to try to save the Iran nuclear deal, in Brussels, Belgium, January 10, 2020. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo MUNICH (Reuters) - European Union governments need to be willing to intervene in international crises or risk prolonging paralysis in their foreign policy, the EU's top diplomat said on Sunday. The EU is the world's largest trading bloc but it often fails to speak with one voice on foreign policy because its policy-making requires consensus among members. EU governments are divided on issues from Libya to Venezuela. "Europe has to develop an appetite for power," the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told the Munich Security Conference, stressing that did not only mean military power. "We should be able to act ... not everyday making comments, expressing concern," he told leaders, lawmakers and diplomats. With its economic power, the bloc has been able to boast of a "soft power", but its influence in the world has waned, partly because U.S. President Donald Trump's "America First"' policies have undermined European priorities. 2020-02-16T170234Z_1_LOV000LSOJRJP_RTRMADV_STREAM-2000-16X9-MP4_GERMANY-SECURITY-BORRELL.MP4 European Union governments need to be willing to intervene in international crises or risk prolonging paralysis in their foreign policy, the EU's top diplomat said on Sunday (February 16). Adam Reed reports. Trump's decision to pull out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, as well as the Paris climate accord, his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital before a final peace settlement and his criticism of NATO are at odds with European positions. With new leadership in Brussels, the EU has launched into a flurry of diplomacy since January, particularly on the Middle East. But the bloc was still divided on how to react to Trump's peace proposal for the Palestinians and Israel. Efforts to revive a maritime mission off Libya to uphold a U.N. arms embargo have run into difficulties, diplomats say. "When there is no unanimity (in the EU), the remaining majority have to act," Borrell said. (Reporting by Robin Emmott; Editing by Frances Kerry) -- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-17 Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post OneMoreFarang Posted February 16, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 16, 2020 I think the Europeans still hope that Trump will go away and things will get back to normal. I wouldn't bet that will happen. I wouldn't even bet that the Americans will vote for anybody better in the future. But I understand that the Europeans hope and wait a little longer. 5 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew65 Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 26 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said: I think the Europeans still hope that Trump will go away and things will get back to normal. I wouldn't bet that will happen. I wouldn't even bet that the Americans will vote for anybody better in the future. But I understand that the Europeans hope and wait a little longer. Is Bloomberg a "dark-horse" candidate? Many think the economy just has to stay on track for Trump to win easily. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JonnyF Posted February 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 17, 2020 The EU's appetite for power is already causing many issues and will contribute to it's demise. It's supposed to be a trading bloc. Leave it that way. 13 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post welovesundaysatspace Posted February 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 17, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, JonnyF said: It's supposed to be a trading bloc. Leave it that way. If I was a brexiteer, I would ask you now why that is any of your business and why you’re even posting in this thread. But even as a Brit you can have your opinion what the EU “is supposed to be”. Anyway. I appreciate the EU being more than a trading block but a third (or forth) superpower, especially when the others are the likes of China, Russland and US. I hope there will be more political, financial, and military integration, instead of the current model where member states can veto many things. Edited February 17, 2020 by welovesundaysatspace 3 1 2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JonnyF Posted February 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 17, 2020 29 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said: If I was a brexiteer, I would ask you now why that is any of your business and why you’re even posting in this thread. But even as a Brit you can have your opinion what the EU “is supposed to be”. Anyway. I appreciate the EU being more than a trading block but a third (or forth) superpower, especially when the others are the likes of China, Russland and US. I hope there will be more political, financial, and military integration, instead of the current model where member states can veto many things. The UK is still subject to most of the rules and regulations until December. Even if they weren't I can post in any thread I like, you don't get to decide that. The majority of Brexit threads are full of bitter non-Brits (Aussies, Americans etc.) slagging off the UK. If you have an issue with people not in the EU posting in Brexit threads I suggest you take it up with them, not me ????. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Scott Tracy Posted February 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 17, 2020 What makes any country, or any so called 'union' of countries right? What right do they have to insist they are right anywhere else in the world? Culture has developed individually around the world. Religions drive many countries. The thoughts and deeds of a Judeao/Christian culture is different to a Muslim culture, Buddhist culture, Hindu culture. Why does The EU think it is in its purvue to start laying down hard power if there is something somewhere that is not liked. 6 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombat Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 5 hours ago, Andrew65 said: the economy any Democrats like to comment on how their 401(k) is doing? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Laughing Gravy Posted February 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 17, 2020 The smell of an EU army is coming. the one that all those anti-Brits kept telling us is a lie. https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-emmanuel-macron-eu-army-to-complement-nato/ The rest of the little minions in the pond will get eat up and do as they are told. 9 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post nauseus Posted February 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 17, 2020 1 hour ago, welovesundaysatspace said: If I was a brexiteer, I would ask you now why that is any of your business and why you’re even posting in this thread. But even as a Brit you can have your opinion what the EU “is supposed to be”. Anyway. I appreciate the EU being more than a trading block but a third (or forth) superpower, especially when the others are the likes of China, Russland and US. I hope there will be more political, financial, and military integration, instead of the current model where member states can veto many things. In that last sentence, you have just described many of the reasons why the UK has left already. 8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookiescot Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 1 hour ago, Laughing Gravy said: The smell of an EU army is coming. the one that all those anti-Brits kept telling us is a lie. https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-emmanuel-macron-eu-army-to-complement-nato/ The rest of the little minions in the pond will get eat up and do as they are told. Not your problem any more. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDark Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 6 hours ago, JonnyF said: The UK is still subject to most of the rules and regulations until December. Even if they weren't I can post in any thread I like, you don't get to decide that. The majority of Brexit threads are full of bitter non-Brits (Aussies, Americans etc.) slagging off the UK. If you have an issue with people not in the EU posting in Brexit threads I suggest you take it up with them, not me ????. UK still has to follow the rules of EU, but has no voice to say anything about those rules. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scot123 Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 4 hours ago, Rookiescot said: Not your problem any more. Learn your history because 3 times we have been dragged into Europe's empire building dictatorships. Schools should be forced to teach the eu's history from it's conception in 1944 and its then given name "The 4th Reich" . The French people should be very thankful of Brexit as it slowed the military side and end goal/game of the project as the denies of its military phase and lies, lies lies were screamed by Germany etc.... As in May 1940 Germany would have rolled into France again under the guise of helping France quell the Yellow vest movement (they were actually caught doing this but quickly painted out the EU insignia on the vehicles followed by a news blackout on the subject) as Petain welcomed Hitler Macron would have welcomed German's EU. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamKnight Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 5 hours ago, Rookiescot said: Not your problem any more. An EU army is not a million miles from a 4th Reich and is everyone's problem. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post TheDark Posted February 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 17, 2020 5 minutes ago, AdamKnight said: An EU army is not a million miles from a 4th Reich and is everyone's problem. Had UK only stayed in the EU, it could have vetoed the creation of the EU army. Now it's too late. Be afraid. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post donnacha Posted February 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 17, 2020 Even the most ardent pro-EU evangelist would not deny that, in essence, the EU is the formation of a German Empire by other means. It is actually healthy that, with the UK out, they can be more forthright about their ultimate destination. The bizarre dance of having to deny what everyone knew was causing a sort of institutional schizophrenia. They needed the UK's financial contribution, and now have less financial buffer to deal with the impending collapse of the Italian banking system, but are now free to layout a vision that will somewhat justify the expense to German taxpayers. Expect increasingly overt declarations over the next few years as the EU moves to separate itself more decisively from the US and to absorb more of the functions of its constituent state governments. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vogie Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 It would appear that the EUs chickens are coming home to roost. The UK’s withdrawal from the European Union has left a huge €75bn (£62bn) hole in the bloc’s budget for the next seven years, 2021 to 2027. “And now we are fighting like ferrets in a sack,” said one EU diplomat with a sigh. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/16/stressed-heads-to-start-brussels-budget-talks-post-brexit 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Andrew65 Posted February 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 17, 2020 8 hours ago, JonnyF said: The EU's appetite for power is already causing many issues and will contribute to it's demise. It's supposed to be a trading bloc. Leave it that way. How is it just a trading bloc when it has a currency, a central bank, a national anthem, and a government & civil service? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post donnacha Posted February 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 17, 2020 9 hours ago, JonnyF said: It's supposed to be a trading bloc. Leave it that way. A trading block is what the British thought they were joining. It stopped being just that decades ago. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirineou Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 3 minutes ago, donnacha said: A trading block is what the British thought they were joining. It stopped being just that decades ago. It never stopped being a trading block , Most things evolve, some walow in past glories. Though I must admit wallowing does have a certain appeal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vogie Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 2 minutes ago, sirineou said: It never stopped being a trading block , Most things evolve, some walow in past glories. Though I must admit wallowing does have a certain appeal. Didn't Frankenstein evolve, I think it did. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDark Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 Can't wait the future, when England-Wales union is surrounded by EU armies from almost all sides. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirineou Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 2 minutes ago, vogie said: Didn't Frankenstein evolve, I think it did. No Frankenstein is a fictional story by Mary Shelley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tippaporn Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 Just another unelected globalist seeking ever greater power for himself and his cronies. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post donnacha Posted February 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 17, 2020 1 minute ago, sirineou said: It never stopped being a trading block Yes. That is why I said "It stopped being just that decades ago." The problem is not evolution, but the direction of evolution. Government on mainland Europe has never really been about serving the people, and democracy has never really been taken to heart. The primacy of individual rights is not a thing there. After WWII, a temporary emphasis on parliamentary democracy was necessary in most shattered countries, to fill in for the loss of their discredited elites, but a new transnational elite has now formed and, beyond some inconsequential theater, democracy is no longer considered reliable or wise. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vogie Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 4 minutes ago, sirineou said: No Frankenstein is a fictional story by Mary Shelley. Yes, fictional charactors can still evolve. The transition of “Frankenstein” from print to video, and the evolution of the story from the first video in 1910 to modern day, reveals as much about the story of Frankenstein as it does about modern society itself. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirineou Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 3 minutes ago, vogie said: Yes, fictional charactors can still evolve. The transition of “Frankenstein” from print to video, and the evolution of the story from the first video in 1910 to modern day, reveals as much about the story of Frankenstein as it does about modern society itself. Does that include modern British society and brexit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vogie Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 Just now, sirineou said: Does that include modern British society and brexit? Frankenstein and the EU both evolved into monsters. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirineou Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 Just now, vogie said: Frankenstein and the EU both evolved into monsters. If you say so Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirineou Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 1 minute ago, sirineou said: If you say so and when ideas end nervous laughter begines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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