Not everything is rosy in Europe - far from it. Last week, this column presented a positive image of the European elections. This optimism, which was moreover moderate, should be accompanied by the criticism and correction of a few situations or types of behaviour that it is difficult to accept.
The Mediterranean and trafficking of women and children. The first drama that is unacceptable is that of the refugees from Africa and Syria who were abandoned in the Mediterranean. It is self-evident that women and children abandoned at sea must be saved and helped. But they are the victims of criminal organisations, which get paid by promising asylum and work in Europe, and who then handle the crossings. And here the shipwrecks and sinkings begin. Furthermore, they are organised and managed by the same criminal groups that took charge of the women and children at the start of their trip, weeks or months earlier!
This is not a suspicion, but a reality that is officially denounced by the justice authorities. With regard to a capsized boat that led to the death of 12 women and several children, the public prosecutor from the Republic of Catania (Sicily) has established an indictment proving that the accident was caused voluntarily by the boat's skippers. The reality is that the situation where the passengers were put in danger was provoked artificially so as to attract emergency help. The indictment speaks of a multiple voluntary homicide. Witnesses stated that water was let into the boat in order to make it capsize so as to attract emergency help, while women and children jumped into the sea. The purely national nature of the Syrian drama should not be forgotten in this context either - it is between Syrians themselves that the fierce war is continuing, with no concern for these women and children.
Two French ships ... The second anomaly, which has now been clarified, concerns the dramatisation and exaggeration of some of the disagreement with Russia - instead of advocating and seeking appeasement of the differences and seeking rapprochement (which actually sometimes seems within arm's reach). This column has already cited several cases. Let me simply mention today the case of the two military ships that France is building for Moscow. Our Europe Diplomacy & Defence publication reported on this in issue number 698. Let me resume and comment on the essential.
In 2011, France signed a sales contract with Russia for two Mistral military ships, which should theoretically be ready for next October. However, in the USA some political forces assert that this contract must not be respected. Victoria Nuland, Assistant Secretary of State responsible for relations with Europe, has spoken of her reservations about this sale, and she announced that they will be re-affirmed. US Congressmen believe that blocking this sale would be a clear message for Moscow.
France hesitates - to put it mildly - at the idea of blocking the sale which has enabled it to keep its STX shipyards running. Blocking the contract would mean France would have to pay Russia back what Russia has already spent - as well as fines. Compensatory measures have been suggested - the two ships could be bought by the EU and used for transporting food aid or as hospital ships. These are suggestions that are clearly only theoretical stop-gaps.
Strange US attitudes. US reservations as regards the two French ships have something strange about them because it is well known (this column has previously commented on it) that the US maintains very close links with Russia - in much bigger and more important domains. Everything that relates to the conquest and mastery of outer space is accomplished jointly between Washington and Moscow (and in some cases with European participation too). Victoria Nuland's position with regard to the two Mistral ships reflects the attitude of some Americans only (as well as of NATO, for the moment) and I wonder if President Obama's overview might not be a little different.
On the European side. It must not be forgotten that Europe has not yet come out of its budgetary crisis - the recovery has hardly begun. Blaming Germany or other member states for their economic links with Moscow means neglecting the fact that Russia is part of the WTO and that, in this framework, the EU often blames Russia for not opening up its trade as widely as it should.
My conclusion is that EU-Russia cooperation is neither an objective nor a hope - it's largely a reality. Ironing out the differences rather than seeking conflict is an approach that is increasingly shared. It's well known that Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin speak on the phone nearly every day.
(FR)