The EU's high representative on foreign policy, Josep Borrell, has often spoken out against the Catalan independence movement. Now, with the coronavirus pandemic shaking the world, the European commissioner has returned to the subject, warning that this health crisis will increase "the temptation to build walls". And as an example, he gives the Catalan president, Quim Torra, for having said that "Catalonia would have handled the crisis better if it were independent".
During a virtual conference hosted by the Foro Nueva Economía this Monday, the former Spanish foreign minister expressed his regret at "how bitter Spanish politics seems, when observed from Brussels, at a time when there should be more cooperation". He warned that in the emergency situation prompted by coronavirus, "populisms, nationalisms and authoritarianisms will find much more solid ground for their theses". To oppose them, he stressed that it was imperative to "call for unity, cooperation and the suspension of conflicts".
Borrell, who has himself generated controversy through his abrasive approach to diplomacy at both Spanish and EU level, admitted that Europe's response to the Covid-19 crisis has left something to be desired, although he deflected criticism. "All the good is the responsibility of the member states and all the bad is the fault of the EU," he said ironically. He also gave the view that the best responses to the crisis seemed to be coming from countries with "the highest democratic quality". Borrell has previously mentioned China's "face mask diplomacy", criticising it as being motivated by self-interest.
On Europe's role, Borrell argued that "European solidarity must step up a little more", speaking with a view to the summit this Thursday that will bring together EU heads of state and governments to tackle, once again, the response to the massive economic crisis which Covid-19 has generated.