The way it's going, 2024 could turn into a nightmare for the 27-country bloc - an all-time annus horribilis. A daunting slew of challenges is coming to a head. Is the EU ready to meet them? Definitely not.
Take the crisis in the Red Sea. Iran-backed Houthi militants have been attacking shipping there since the Israel-Hamas war began. Citing threats to global trade and free navigation, the US and the UK struck back last month in Operation Prosperity Guardian - on their own.
The EU has an important stake in this fight. About 40% of its Asia and Middle East trade moves via Suez. But only the Netherlands provided hands-on assistance. Germany offered support - in a written statement. France, Italy and Spain ducked out. The excuse is that the EU plans to launch its own Red Sea mission. Yet foreign ministers have put off a decision until 19 February. The good news is that Belgium may send a frigate.
This sorry saga exposes some familiar EU singularities: ambivalence about following America's lead, fear of getting into a war and, in this case, worry about siding with Israel. Snoozing at the tiller, Europe is again failing to pair its self-interest and aspirations as a global actor with timely, concrete, joined-up action.
ãã®èšäºã¯ The Guardian Weekly ã® February 02, 2024 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã8,500 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ The Guardian Weekly ã® February 02, 2024 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã8,500 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
From mains to a sweet treat, how to serve up a thrill from the grill
If you don't have a kamado-style barbecue, what interesting things can you make on a simple grill?
Points of origin
Two takes on Covid's early days-one aimed at academics, the other a 'documentary novel' that mixes fiction and fact to powerful effect
Why I took to Cannes' red carpet to call out sexual violence Rokhaya Diallo
The 77th Cannes film festival reached its climax on Saturday when all eyes were on the Croisette, as the winners of the prestigious Palme d'Or were announced.
Ukraine can recover with bolder support - but now it's on the ropes
The mood in Ukraine is sombre these days.
Life after lava
Icelanders are famously hardy, but after a series of volcanic eruptions set houses alight and opened up 20-metre-deep fissures in GrindavÃk, the fishing town near the famous Blue Lagoon, residents are asking if they'll ever be allowed back home
How Church of England's slavery ties went to top of hierarchy
An archbishop of Canterbury in the 18th century approved payments for the purchase of enslaved people for two sugar plantations in Barbados, documents seen by the Observer have revealed.
Easter Island monoliths face up to new climate extremes
The Ahu Tahai moai, on the east side of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, is an impressive 4.5 metres high.
Secrets of the world's most trusting country
In Danish society, people feel safe enough to leave their babies and bikes out on the street. How did they get to this point?
'Not our president': Kanak call on Macron for fair deal
I don't know why our fate is being discussed by people who don't even live here.
New normal Life under constant attack threat in Kharkiv
Under the late spring sun on a recent Saturday afternoon, these were some of the sounds to be heard in Kharkiv's Shevchenko Park: birds chirruping; young couples laughing over iced coffees; tinny pop music playing from speakers mounted on lampposts; pensioners gossiping on the benches; and, at 11 minutes to three, a prolonged explosion that reverberated in the chest like a rumble of thunder.