The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said on Thursday 16 January, that the EU should not settle for being a 'soft power'.
He said that in today's world, in order to control their destiny, “Europeans are beginning to realise that we have learn to talk the language of power”. “Because being a soft power is not enough”, he said in a speech at the Raisina Dialogue 2020 in India.
“The European Union was built not to use power. But today, this logic is no longer valid. Instead of curtailing our power, we should use our Union to enhance it”, he insisted. Mr Borrell added that Europe needed to be more assertive in defending its values and interests. “Otherwise, the law of the jungle will prevail. And we do not want that might replaces right”, he warned.
Recalling that the EU's unity was its strength, Mr Borrell said the EU was still a “player in search of identity”. “Do we want to be a player or a playground? And if we want to be player, what kind of player? It is difficult to answer this question because Europeans have different histories and we need to build a common history”, he stressed. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)