"Krone" analysis

Turbulent EU summit with highs and lows

The traditional "family photo"

(Bild: SAMEER AL-DOUMY / AFP / picturedesk.com)

A turbulent EU summit came to an end yesterday, Friday. During breakfast, an inadvertent "declaration of war" by Russia caused a stir, the Union continues to be divided on the issue of Israel and the announced accession talks with Bosnia-Herzegovina only serve to buy time for Brussels. But one thing at a time.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov usually knows exactly what he is saying. In an interview with a Russian political magazine, he officially admitted for the first time that Russia was "at war." Previously, the war in Ukraine was always referred to as a special military operation. Peskov said: "We are at war. Yes, it began as a special military operation, but as soon as this group was formed and the collective West became a participant in it on the side of Ukraine, it became a war for us."

These words should be seen as a reaction. To the decision of the EU members to pursue the "Borrell Plan". Borrell had proposed that the EU use 90 percent of the interest profits from frozen Russian assets to buy weapons for Ukraine. Ten percent was to flow into the reconstruction of Ukraine and into strengthening the capacities of the Ukrainian defense industry.

Caused a stir: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov

(Bild: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

At the final press conference, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen explained that the first funds could flow to Ukraine as early as July. The member states must now quickly adopt a proposal. The EU Commission expects interest income of up to three billion euros per year. However, agreement is still a long way off. Austria in particular remains skeptical. As a neutral country, it cannot participate in arms purchases, which is why it will "constructively abstain".

Peskov's statement is to be understood as a reaction to the EU decision. A little later, however, Peskov rowed back. He said: "Just because the West has decided to wage war against us does not mean that we are in a state of war. "It is still a special operation."

Ukraine urgently needs ammunition.

(Bild: AP Photo/Libkos)

Russia expert Alexander Dubowy does not believe it is a coincidence. The statements caused uncertainty in the West. "Exactly what Russia wants. Putin thus remains unpredictable." And it was a signal to the West: "There are no red lines in Putin's world."

The fact that the EU wants to confiscate the interest income from Russian assets is tricky for the expert: "Russia is constantly propagating that the rule-based order of the West does not exist. The West makes up the rules, but doesn't abide by them itself." If the seizure is not legally watertight, it will be a major boomerang for the West.

At odds on the Israel issue: Belgium's De Croo and Chancellor Nehammer

(Bild: JONAS ROOSENS / ANP / picturedesk.com)

Israel divides Europe - for strange reasons
The EU remains deeply divided on the issue of Israel. Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer called for the atrocities committed by the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas to be clearly named. But there was resistance. Belgium and the Netherlands are keeping their distance. For domestic political reasons. Both countries have a strong Islamic religious community and fear unrest if they position themselves too strongly on the side of Israel, according to sources in negotiating circles.

Ireland's position towards Israel has always been rather cool. Ireland only recognized Israel in 1963 and the Israeli embassy in Dublin was opened in the mid-1990s. Irish politicians describe it as hypocrisy when the atrocities against the civilian population in Ukraine are criticized, but not those in the Gaza Strip. Portugal and Spain are also traditionally more pro-Palestinian due to their strong socialist background. One reason for the anti-Israel stance, however, is simple antipathy towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Brussels. Which is why the atrocities committed by Hamas are not explicitly mentioned in the conclusion, as the Chancellor would have liked.

Israel is very concerned about the abducted people.

(Bild: AP)

Bosnia still has a long way to go to join the EU
On the other hand, Austria was extremely pleased that the EU heads of state and government had officially decided to open accession talks with Bosnia-Herzegovina. However, some EU states had expressed concerns in advance because the country had not yet implemented all the required reforms. Political scientist Vedran Dzihic from the Austrian Institute for International Politics also told the "Krone" newspaper: "The green light for the start of EU negotiations for Bosnia is only the beginning of a long road." After the necessary reforms, for which there is no domestic political consensus, comes the long road of negotiations. And the examples of Montenegro (since 2012) and Serbia (since 2014) show "how arduous this will be".

Dzihic is also certain: "In the current political constellation with a pro-Russian and secessionist president of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, and the leader of the Croatian HDZ, Dragan Čović, for whom protecting his own interests is probably more important than EU accession, Bosnia would not be able to meet the Copenhagen criteria. To put it bluntly - with ethno-nationalist politicians who only serve their own particular interests, Bosnia is not ready for the EU."

Political scientist Vedran Dzihic

(Bild: zVg)

One of the leading foreign policy experts in the Balkans, Vuk Vuksanović, takes a somewhat harsher view of the EU and Bosnia in the "Krone" interview: "At the moment, the chances of accession - as with all other Balkan states - are non-existent." Bosnia only got the status because "anything else would have been an insult. The EU cannot grant accession status to a country at war (Ukraine), but not to a country where the war has been over for 27 years."