EU overseas coverage chief Kallas relieved by Rubio’s speech | EUROtoday

tagesschau.de: High Representative, you had been within the room when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke. And his tone was a lot gentler than Vice President JD Vance final 12 months. While he hasn’t spared criticism of the United Nations, he has supplied to revive the historic relationship between the United States and Europe. Should that reassure us?

Kaja Kalla: There was undoubtedly a sigh of aid within the room. When Rubio says that Europe is necessary, that we’ve good ties with America. It has been this manner for years, and it’ll proceed to be this manner sooner or later, that we’re very intertwined.

It was good to listen to that. And to have affirmation that the transatlantic ties are there. I believe the feelings within the room had been fully totally different than final 12 months.

Rubio seems as Transatlantic on

tagesschau.de: But is it greater than a softer tone? Of course he emphasised the transatlantic partnership. But on the identical time, Rubio has delivered the MAGA cues, and after this assembly right here he’s visiting Hungary, one of many harshest critics of European unity – and, some say, a superb good friend of President Putin. How dependable is what Rubio says?

Called: It is evident that overseas coverage can also be home coverage. And he clearly additionally addressed the viewers within the USA. But I believe it is necessary to grasp that almost all of Americans see the Europeans as allies. We should construct on that. We need sturdy, transatlantic ties.

Sometimes it felt like we had been alone on this relationship. As if that was one-sided. Today I believe the messages had been very reassuring. But after all we additionally know that Rubio is probably the most pro-European, probably the most pro-Transatlantic within the Trump administration. The query subsequently all the time arises as as to whether his statements additionally mirror the president’s views.

“The charter is not working as it should”

tagesschau.de: At the identical time, the prognosis may be very clear that the outdated rule-based order is at an finish. Chancellor Merz put it like this. And Rubio has criticized this order very clearly. He additionally referred to as for a stronger Europe. But if we take a look at present Europe, does it have sufficient muscle to hold on by itself even when America withdraws?

Called: We heard in the present day that we do not have to go alone as a result of America needs to go along with us. That was his message within the speech. At the identical time, after all, we’ve to grow to be stronger. Our European pillar in NATO should grow to be stronger. We are engaged on that.

As for the rules-based order, it’s clear that it isn’t working. But if you happen to take a look at historical past, there have all the time been these main worldwide crises that gave us the chance to develop worldwide regulation. The League of Nations did not work, so that they threw it out the window.

As for the United Nations after the Second World War, it’s clear that the Charter is superb. But it does not work because it ought to. What is lacking and what we have to work on is accountability. And that nobody ought to be above the regulation. And there are totally different views among the many superpowers, who all wish to have rights. And then there are the remainder who need a world with guidelines.

“Russia is the problem, not Ukraine”

tagesschau.de: Let’s discuss Ukraine and Russia. You lately demanded that the Europeans ship a catalog of concrete calls for to Russia with a view to the peace talks. What precisely is meant to be in there? And when is that imagined to occur?

Called: I’ve already despatched a catalog to the European ambassadors this week with the concessions we wish to see from Russia. The ambassadors are already speaking about it. So far we solely hear about what the Ukrainians ought to quit. All the stress is on Ukraine and what they’ve to surrender.

But there’s an aggressor and a sufferer. If you place all of the stress on the sufferer to surrender, you get a fast victory, however not a everlasting finish to the warfare. We already noticed that with the Minsk Agreement. Then there would simply be a break, which everybody so desperately wants, however then it goes on once more.

To be clear, we’re anxious about Russia as a result of they begin the wars. Over the previous hundred years they’ve attacked at the least 19 nations, some three or 4 instances. So they’re the issue, not Ukraine.

“Definitely need an expansion”

tagesschau.de: Let’s stick with Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky is asking for a transparent date as to when his nation can be part of the EU. Is that reasonable or will he have to attend endlessly?

Called: Expansion is a course of based mostly on efficiency. But it’s also a geopolitical choice. If we take a look at the expansions up to now, the geopolitical state of affairs may be very clear. The undeniable fact that these nations wish to be part of us is a really optimistic signal. But from our aspect it’s also true that we want this, that we’re stronger collectively.

I can not give a date for Ukraine or the Western Balkans. But we undoubtedly want enlargement. Not within the sense that everybody is available in or stays out, however selections are made nation by nation. Positive selections – in these 5 years.

tagesschau.de: Quick query: Does this geopolitical evaluation actually have a likelihood if Hungary blocks any progress within the enlargement course of?

Called: That’s why we additionally have to rethink our personal decision-making. We should do our homework. Because it can’t be the case that if a single nation does not need one thing and 26 others need it, we then do what that nation needs. It shouldn’t be democracy if one nation decides in opposition to the vast majority of the others.

Kallas’ longest January

tagesschau.de: At the peak of the Greenland disaster you had been quoted as telling parliamentarians that you just “don’t think much of drinking, but this would be a good moment to start.” Does that also mirror your temper?

Called: Well, there was a protracted historical past, however I haven’t got time to repeat it now. I have not been a politician for that lengthy. And I’m nonetheless a human being, I make jokes that you just typically pay dearly for in politics.

tagesschau.de: But is your temper higher now than it was a number of weeks in the past?

Called: I can safely say that this January was the longest I’ve endured in my whole life. Now it is February and it is half over. So it is higher now, sure.

Tina Hassel and Kai Küstner performed the interview