Cooperation in Europe is the only way to do business

The last thing Europe needs is war. That´s the message we have to send around. But we should also send an additional message: European countries should respect international law and the existing treaties. There is no way we can accept any exception to that. Those leaders who think they can ignore internationally accepted norms and agreements that have been signed by the European nations, including their own countries, are on the wrong side of history. They should be clearly told that. And if they persist, then there are sanctions of all types and sizes that can be applied. But always with the invitation for them to change course and accept that the only acceptable approach to relations among our States is the one based on full respect for the sovereignty and the domestic affairs of each country. The political and economic instruments are quite powerful in international relations. They should however be complemented by a build-up of national security and a strong public information campaign. 

EU and Russia: sanctions and cooperation, the two sides of the coin

I have just finished my opinion piece of this week for Visão, a well-read general news magazine that is published every Thursday in Lisbon. This time the theme had to be about the relations between the EU and Russia, in the aftermath of the shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines plane.

My points are that we have to combine much tougher and better targetted economic sanctions against key Russian enterprises, including Rosneft, making sure they cannot access the European financial markets, with a continuous invitation for political dialogue between Europe and Russia. In the end, both blocs need each other. Russia, sooner or later, will require EU capital, technology and markets to develop its Far East. And Europe has a lot to gain by participating in the economic development of its big neighbour.

However the long term view cannot ignore the realities of today. And the key message here is that Russia has to fully implement the Helsinki Act of 1975 about peace and cooperation in Europe and non-interference in the internal affairs of other states.