Gomes Cravinho says it is “painful” to see EU division on Gaza

“IT IS it is extremely painful to look at what European policy has been about Gaza in particular. And it is painful for the following: in the face of a conflict in a nearby area, a deep conflict of atrocious violence, Europe has not been able to have a voice”, criticised João Gomes Cravinho, in an interview with the Lusa agency in Bruges, Belgium.

In this interview about the new post as rector of the College of Europe, which he took over about two months ago, the former head of Portuguese diplomacy noted that the lack of a common position in the EU is not due to the lack of convergence between the “large majority” of countries, which could work together, but to the opposition of “a very small number” of Member States to measures against Israel, pointing out the Czech Republic, Germany and Hungary.

According to the person responsible, the situation leaves the Union exposed to accusations of inconsistency: “Any talk about EU values, morals, international law, is immediately confronted with one word, which is Gaza.”.

“The EU’s credibility has been deeply shaken by this,” he added, stating that there is an “essential contradiction” between defending those principles and maintaining relations with Israel.

Asked about possible measures against Israel, Gomes Cravinho pointed to EU trade policy and considered that, if the European Commission considers what is happening in Gaza to be unacceptable, it should ensure that there are consequences.

As some Member States have blocked a common response, the former minister said that unilateral measures, such as those adopted by Portugal, can be justifiable, although they “fragile” the EU as a whole.

On the Portuguese position, he considered that the government has followed “the right path”, although Portugal could have recognized the State of Palestine earlier.

Gomes Cravinho also argued that the solution of two states remains the only way out of the conflict.

The war in Gaza has caused one of the most serious humanitarian crises in recent years, caused by the Israeli offensive and US support, with thousands of deaths and injuries and a population faced with mass displacement, destruction of infrastructure and shortage of food, water and medicines.

In the interview with Lusa, the former minister also spoke of Guinea-Bissau, where he pointed out as main problems a state “almost nonexistent”, “absolutely penetrated by drug trafficking”, and the influence of this phenomenon on the Armed Forces.

About Portugal’s performance, he considered that the Government “can’t agree” with what he classified as an “absolute fraud”, referring to the interruption of the electoral process and the attempt to create a new legitimacy.

On Mozambique, he considered the Portuguese stance correct and defended the continuation of efforts to promote dialogue and greater political openness, highlighting the efforts of President Daniel Chapo in this sense.

Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique have been going through periods of political instability in recent years, with Portugal and the EU defending the strengthening of democratic institutions and the rule of law.

On Sahel, a region where he was a special EU representative, Gomes Cravinho rejected the Union’s “lost” importance, but advocated a change in relations with African countries.

“ We have to work completely differently in the context of the dialogue”, he concluded.

João Gomes Cravinho has been rector of the College of Europe since July. Doctorate in Political Science, he was Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence of the governments of António Costa. He was also EU ambassador to India and Brazil.