Josep Borrell Fontelles

Former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President @eu_commission 2019-2024. President of CIDOB. Distinguished Fellow Elcano.

[European Parliament Former Members Association @Europarl_FMA]

It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the death of Dr Klaus Hänsch, former President of the European Parliament (1994-1997) and of the Association of Former Members of the European Parliament (2022-2026).

“The election of Klaus Hänsch as President of the European Parliament in the years following German reunification symbolised not only a personal achievement, but also an important moment in the history of a Europe striving towards greater unity in diversity and shared responsibility.

His political journey has been deeply rooted in the tradition of European parliamentary democracy and in the conviction that European integration is first and foremost a project of peace, freedom, and solidarity.

Until very recently, President Hänsch guided our association with wisdom and commitment, inspired by the values that unite us as Europeans, and reaffirmed the significant contribution that former Members of Parliament offer to the European project.

He leaves an enduring legacy for both the history of the Parliament and the future of our Association.”

Josep Borrell, FMA President and Former President of the European Parliament

[Josep Borrell Fontelles @JosepBorrellF]

4. This is worth unpacking as it is quite revealing of how EU governments are learning to understand, talk, use and abuse the EU’s legal order in manifest breach of the principle of loyal cooperation that binds them.

[Josep Borrell Fontelles @JosepBorrellF]

1. After thousands of migrants crossed into Ceuta from Morocco this week, Italy threatened to “suspend Schengen with Spain.”
It just can’t.
Under EU law, no Member State can unilaterally suspend another’s participation in Schengen.

[Josep Borrell Fontelles @JosepBorrellF]

3. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni followed, saying Rome was ready for “extraordinary measures” to defend its borders. Spain’s foreign ministry, treating the statements as a diplomatic incident rather than a policy proposal, summoned the Italian ambassador.

[Josep Borrell Fontelles @JosepBorrellF]

En Oriente Medio no estuvimos a la altura y seguimos sin estarlo. En esta entrevista con @iemed explico por qué creo que Europa debe asumir sus responsabilidades si quiere ser un actor internacional creíble: https://t.co/pxOskq2vi6

[Josep Borrell Fontelles @JosepBorrellF]

5/5
Trump wants a Court that can't touch soldiers or allies. Netanyahu wants a Court that can't touch him. Neither needs to destroy the ICC from outside if member states hollow it out from within. Khan deserves due process — and the Court's independence deserves defending.

[Josep Borrell Fontelles @JosepBorrellF]

Some institutional failures don't arrive with scandal, but with procedure. That's what's happening to ICC prosecutor Karim Khan right now — and it's exactly what Washington and Tel Aviv have spent months hoping for: https://t.co/Dqw5M4nAu9 A thread. 🧵

[Josep Borrell Fontelles @JosepBorrellF]

4/5
The FT reported Trump proposed to Xi Jinping that the US, China and Russia join forces against the Court — two powers that aren't even ICC members, one led by a man under its own arrest warrant. You don't need a conspiracy theory to see whose interests align here.

[CIDOB (Barcelona Centre for International Affairs) @CidobBarcelona]

On 17 September, CIDOB will present a renewed edition of the CIDOB International Yearbook, which explores in depth the defining challenge of 2027: Democracy under siege. The presentation will feature a conversation with @M_Ignatieff. Join us!
✍https://t.co/n15pjBN0b2

[Josep Borrell Fontelles @JosepBorrellF]

2/ Lástima que se denegara a su esposa el pasaporte para acompañarle a Ankara. Este tipo de actuaciones llaman poderosamente la atención y erosionan la confianza ciudadana en la justicia.

[Josep Borrell Fontelles @JosepBorrellF]

1/ España ha dado explicaciones convincentes en la cumbre de la OTAN sobre el aumento de sus capacidades militares. La receta de Sánchez de calma y paciencia funciona frente a Trump.

[Josep Borrell Fontelles @JosepBorrellF]

Israel declara persona non grata a @kajakallas por supuesta actitud antisemita y al día siguiente su colega la comisaria @dubravkasuica se planta en Tel Aviv e intercambia sonrisas y ningún reproche con el ministro @gidonsaar menuda muestra de "solidaridad y coordinación" en UE

[Josep Borrell Fontelles @JosepBorrellF]

La decisión del juez instructor de tomar medidas para prevenir la huida de Begoña Gómez ayudada por sus escoltas me parece un despropósito ante el cual el Consejo General del Poder Judicial debería intervenir.

[European Parliament Former Members Association @Europarl_FMA]

Yesterday, 3 June 2026, the Former Members Association gathered at the European Parliament in Brussels for its 25th Annual General Assembly.

The AGA started with a special presentation on the FMA's establishment, led by Lord Richard Balfe, one of the Association's founders.

During the Assembly, members voted to elect the new FMA Management Committee. After the traditional Annual Lunch, the candidates reconvened for the announcement of the election results.

The following members were elected to serve on the Management Committee for the 2026–2028 term: Monica Baldi, Jean-Pierre Audy, José Ramón Bauzá Díaz, Josep Borrell Fontelles and Paul Rübig.

They have joined Edit Herczog, Michael Hindley, Manuel Porto, Godelieve Quisthoudt-rowohl, and Teresa Riera Madurell, who had previously been elected for the 2025–2027 term.

After their first meeting, the new Management Committee elected Josep Borrell as President of the FMA, Monica Baldi as Vice-President, Jean-Pierre Audy as Treasurer, and Teresa Riera Madurell as Secretary.

We warmly congratulate the newly elected team and thank all members who participated in this important democratic process.

Last, but certainly not least, we would like to thank the outgoing President, Klaus Hänsch, for his dedication and commitment to the association over the past four years.

[Roberta Metsola @EP_President]

Honoured to welcome back five former Presidents of @Europarl_EN today who not only helped shape our Parliament, but also strengthened its role as the democratic heart of Europe.

Thank you for your service 🇪🇺

[Josep Borrell Fontelles @JosepBorrellF]

Como cambia el mundo: Alemania no consigue bastante apoyos en la Asamblea General de Naciones Unidas y se queda fuera del Consejo de Seguridad por primera vez en la historia.

[Josep Borrell Fontelles @JosepBorrellF]

La UE ha aprobado pagar a terceros países para crear plataformas de retorno de inmigrantes irregulares. Con ello, la UE dimite de sus principios humanitarios y se embarca en una solución costosa e ineficiente como ya ha demostrado el Plan Albania de Meloni y el RU en Ruanda.