EU Wary of Being Dragged Into Britain-Russia Diplomatic Row

Despite a statement saying it was “disappointed” by Russian failure to cooperate with the UK, the European Union is staying firmly on the sidelines in the escalating diplomatic row between London and Moscow.

As relations between Britain and Russia reach the lowest point since the Cold War, the European Union stands to one side, unwilling to get involved in what could turn out to be one of the most serious diplomatic spats between east and west in over a decade.

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Eventual EU statement lacks weight

A statement eventually materialized Thursday, but Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado’s assertion that the diplomatic row was “disappointing” and “a bilateral issue” between Britain and Russia hardly threw the bloc’s weight behind the Brits.

The statement by the Portuguese did however say the issue “raises important questions of common interest to EU member states,” adding that Litvinenko’s murder was “a grave and reckless crime.”

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Germany says Britain “overreacted

Germany was one of the many other EU nations which viewed the situation from a distance. Despite Prime Minister Brown’s visit in person to Berlin to press Chancellor Angela Merkel for her support, Germany remained firmly on the fence but did say that it thought Britain had “overreacted” by expelling the four Russian diplomats and freezing bilateral negotiations on visas.
 

Russia warns EU to stay out of row

Russia for its part has warned the EU to stay out of the row and Vladimir Chizhov, Russia’s EU representative in Brussels called the EU Presidency’s lukewarm statement on Wednesday “an unpleasant surprise for us.”

(DW; Image: AP)