The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, highlights a striking paradox in political life: forming a government hinges on someone who claims to be indifferent to Spain’s governance, while another actor focuses on resolving the Catalonia dispute in his own distinctive way. This contrast underscores the delicate balance between self‑rule and shared responsibility that defines Spain’s current political landscape, a topic Borrell describes in an interview with El País that Europa Press later summarized. In this view, parliamentary democracy rests on difficult agreements and the concessions they require, particularly in the negotiations that followed the July 23 elections between the PSOE and nationalist forces.
Create structures in conjunctions
Borrell argues that the real challenge lies not in short‑term fixes but in building durable structures amid political conjunctures. He urges a projection of the State the country wants, with institutions designed to function beyond a momentary political pressure. Turning necessity into virtue, he says, can guide the creation of resilient governance that serves the long term rather than only reacting to the latest twist in the parliamentary process.
The interview makes clear that the July 23 elections marked a turning point, signaling what Borrell calls the seemingly unstoppable rise of the far right and the tendency for both classical conservatives and far‑right factions to seek governance through coalitions. Spain is presented as a counterexample when set against the practices observed in other countries.
Sanchez made statements
Asked about the pedagogical approach of the Pedro Sánchez government to explaining transfers, Borrell replied that the vice president faced very difficult situations yet managed to achieve tangible results, including efforts to calm tensions in Catalonia. He notes the risks inherent in the disintegration of the State during 2017 and contrasts that moment with today, when the pro‑independence parties have been displaced in the political arithmetic. The discussion touches on the lack of transparency surrounding amnesty for independentists and reforms on sedition and embezzlement, with Borrell suggesting that more and clearer explanations were needed. He observes that Sánchez understood this and acted promptly after the election call, contributing to better polling outcomes for the PSOE than expected.
Spain is described as a plural and diverse country that nonetheless operates as a set of political entities. The message is that Europe faces a similar challenge in reconciling diverse national realities with shared institutions. Since 1993, when the PSOE lost its absolute majority, governments have relied on regional nationalist parties to secure support, a dynamic that shaped political tradeoffs and fiscal arrangements in the following years.
Russia failed in its invasion of Ukraine
In his capacity as head of EU diplomacy, Borrell weighs in on several international questions. He states that Russia failed in its lightning invasion of Ukraine and that the war exacted a heavy toll in material and human terms. Yet he stresses that the strategy of assisting Ukraine did not exhaust the EU’s capacity; instead, it reflected a careful balance between aiding Ukraine and avoiding a broader, open escalation. He notes that Ukraine’s path toward EU membership remains on track and should proceed as quickly as possible.
On other geopolitical events, Borrell cautions against overattributing the Niger coup to Russian interference, while acknowledging that the country may exploit regional instability. He also flags the risk of irregular migration and a potential jihadist threat that could affect neighboring states and Europe as a whole, emphasizing the need for coordinated European responses.