How the Israel and Hamas war revealed the irrelevance of the EU: in times of escalating international crises, the geopolitical continent has been left on the sidelines.

At least Europe no longer has to endure Henry Kissinger's (Henry Kissinger) banal joke: who to call if you want to call Europe. No one is calling.

Of the many geostrategic illusions that have collapsed in recent days, the most pitiful realisation for anyone living in Europe would be this: “Nobody cares what Europe thinks. Across the entire spectrum of international issues, from Nagorno-Karabakh and Kosovo to Israel, Europe is relegated to the role of a well-meaning NGO, whose humanitarian contribution is welcome, but otherwise ignored.”

The 27-member bloc has always struggled to formulate a coherent foreign policy, given its differing national interests, yet it remained significant, primarily due to the size of its market. However, the EU's international influence is waning, given its economic decline and inability to project military power at a time when global instability is on the rise.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (Ursula von der Leyen) promised a geopolitical force upon taking office in 2019. Instead, the EU has devalued itself on the European stage, causing a degree of surprise and bewilderment among players at the top negotiating table, but, for the most part, the EU confuses itself in a cacophony of its own internal contradictions.

If this conclusion sounds harsh, remember: Hamas killed hundreds of Israeli civilians over the weekend, and on Monday, EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi (Olivér Várhelyi) announced that the bloc would immediately suspend 691 million euros in aid to the Palestinian Authority. A few hours later, Slovenian Commissioner Janez Lenarčič (Janez Lenarčič) contradicted his Hungarian colleague, insisting that the aforementioned aid would continue for as long as necessary.

The EC press service subsequently issued a statement that the EU would urgently review certain aid programmes to ensure that funds were not being diverted to terrorism, which in effect implies that such security measures had not been in place. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell (Josep Borrell) stated on 10 October that the outcome of any review of aid provided to the Palestinians had been decided in advance: “We will have to support more, not less.”

In summary: within 24 hours, the European Commission went from an initial announcement of suspending all aid to the Palestinians to signalling that the EC would increase the flow of funds.

https://www.politico.eu/article/israel-hamas-war-europe-eu-power-irrelevance/