– This is not the time when we will send flowers to all of you and say that you are beautiful, that you work very well and that we are very happy.
The words belong to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and come from a speech delivered Tuesday to his diplomats. There he accused them of being lazy, ineffective and condescending to the countries they work for, writes The Guardian.
– I want you to be more responsive 24/7. I need you to report quickly on what is happening in your country, Borrell said.
He believes he has sometimes learned more from reading newspapers than diplomats’ reports.
– I want to be informed by you and not by the press, Borrell continued.
– NATO should think about self-dissolution
He didn’t think Russia would attack
Borrell also criticizes them for not foreseeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Among other things, this meant that he didn’t think Russia would attack when he did.
He says he had to rely on US warnings and specifically points to a conversation with US Foreign Minister Anthony Blinken.
– I have to admit that the Americans here in Brussels told us that Russia would attack, and we were rather reluctant to believe it, says Borrell.
Just two days later, Russia bombed Kiev for the first time, says Borrell.
– The EU must take on more responsibility
He believes that the EU relies too much of its security on the United States and has suggested that the relationship with the United States can no longer be taken for granted either.
– While cooperation with the Biden administration is excellent and transatlantic relations have never been as good as they are today, no one knows what will happen in two years, or even in November, Borrell said, according to Brussels Morning.
– What would have happened if, instead of Biden, there had been Trump or someone else in the White House? What then would be the US response to the war in Ukraine? Borrell asked.
Believes that the EU should take on more security responsibilities on its own.
