There is no doubt that European politicians from various countries of the old continent sought hard when they set the goals of the European Union in the eighties and nineties of the last century to set a set of theoretical goals that might find their way to be implemented in a way that contributes to the creation of a great power to compete with the major powers that prevailed at the time.
Although the major European countries have a colonial history in the conscience of most developing countries, these countries hoped that the European Union would succeed in becoming a counterweight to the one pole represented by the United States and its policies based on authoritarianism, waging wars and interfering in the affairs of other countries, Especially since one of the main goals contained in the European Union agreement stipulated preserving peace, preventing conflicts, and strengthening international security.
In addition to other goals, including the promotion and support of democracy, the rule of law, human rights, the principles of international law, and assisting European populations, states and regions to cope with natural and man-made disasters.
However, after more than thirty years from the signing of the agreement, have the European Union institutions and its politicians succeeded in achieving the objectives of its establishment?
It is known that the measure of the success of any political entity is in how it handles the crises it is going through, and if we review a few of the statements of prominent European politicians about the Union’s handling of the Corona pandemic as an example, we see that European institutions have failed to a large extent and reached the point of striking its credibility and viability, as announced by the Minister. European affairs in the French government, Amelie de Montchalin, who told "France Inter" radio last year: "If Europe is just a single market in good times, it is not needed," while French President Emmanuel Macron warned of the danger that the Corona virus poses to the old continent. And on the European project.
Meanwhile, Italy's ambassador to the European Union, Maurizo Massari, wrote an article following the refusal of member states to request assistance from Italy: “Italy must not be left alone in the face of this crisis ... This position is a bad indication of solidarity among the countries of the European Union.”
Here, the failure of one of the main objectives set by European politicians within the framework of the establishment of the Union is to “assist European populations, states and regions to cope with natural and man-made disasters.
As for the European Union’s goal of preserving peace, preventing conflicts, and strengthening international security, successive European leaders since the establishment of the Union have proven that they lack an effective policy independent of the United States. Therefore, they rarely find a real and effective European role that contributed to finding a solution to the conflict here. Or a war there. Rather, their effectiveness was limited to making statements and statements far from reality. Indeed, it can be said that some European positions have contributed to fueling conflicts and instability in different regions of the world.
Some may say that the Iranian nuclear agreement announced on July 14, 2015 between Iran and the major powers represented by the five permanent members of the Security Council in addition to Germany, which is known as the 5 + 1 group, is a European diplomatic success, but the EU countries failed to take a serious position that would allow this to be considered. The success is real when the United States, under President Donald Trump, withdrew from the agreement, and the leaders of Britain, Germany and France, who signed the agreement with China and Russia, contented themselves with issuing a joint statement in which they described the US decision as a "regret and concern", and refrained from taking any actual steps in the face of the American position to prove again Europe’s policies are not separated from the White House’s approach except in form and statements.
The biggest failure in European policies regarding the preservation of international peace and security and the promotion and support of democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and the principles of international law were embodied during the years of the war on Syria and the stances taken by the European Union and the wrong policies it pursued. Direct in shedding the blood of the Syrians by supporting terrorism on the one hand, and punishing the Syrian people for their choice not to allow interference in their affairs and their right to self-determination on the other hand.
The most dangerous thing is that European politicians, despite the rising European popular voices to review their policy towards Syria, still insist on adopting the same failed policies that block the way to the existence of any influential and effective European role not only in Syria but anywhere in the world.