The EU's High-Minded Hypocrisy Playbook
CASE A: The EU's Current Tango with India The FT article, by Alan Beattie, notes the EU's willingness to 'sacrifice its own principles' for a trade deal with India. This includes overlooking India's less-than-stellar environmental record and its recent restrictions on digital commerce. The report paints a picture of pragmatism, where the EU wants to be a 'third pole' in a multipolar world and
counter China, therefore needing to court India. The framing emphasizes the 'geopolitical gesture' and the 'economic benefits for both sides,' implying that such concessions are necessary for grander strategic aims. Apparently, principles are a luxury item, to be afforded only when they don't impede business. CASE B: The EU's High-Stakes Stand Against Russia (circa 2022) Recall the fervent
declarations from Brussels following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The EU, led by figures like Ursula von der Leyen, championed 'values, not just interests' and imposed unprecedented sanctions, even accepting energy shortages and economic pain. Member states were applauded for their 'moral clarity' and commitment to human rights and international law. The language was uncompromising: 'We
stand united against aggression,' and 'Our values are not for sale.' During this period, the EU presented itself as the moral compass of the free world, ready to endure economic hardship for the sake of its foundational principles. The narrative was clear: certain behaviors crossed red lines, and economic ties would be severed, irrespective of cost, to uphold these values. THE FRAMING: A Tale of