Kallas: The European Union may refuse to help countries that support Russia or Iran

In the future, the European Union may deprive countries that support Russia or Iran of assistance. This was stated by the head of the European Diplomacy, Kaya Kallas, at a speech before the meeting of EU development ministers, Euractiv reports.

"If a partner supports Russia or Iran, then we must be flexible in order to be able to review our interaction in this case," Callas said.,

She added that the EU does not refuse assistance completely, but will be ready to reconsider the interaction. According to her, the bloc remembers that "Europe has its own interests."

"If we have projects to support countries, but they are actually aimed at our competitors, then we also need to think about how to fix this," the head of the European Diplomacy noted.

The European Commissioner for Development, Josef Sikela, said that with regard to investing in developing countries The EU should give preference to European companies.

"In a world where investments, infrastructure and supply chains have become instruments of influence, foreign policy cannot be sentimental," he said.

Euractiv writes that Callas' statements were made against the background of the development by the management The EU geopolitical investment strategy of the Global Gateway initiative with a budget of € 300 billion.

Global Gateway is an investment initiative of the European Union, the purpose of which is to attract financing in various sectors of the global economy, including energy, transport, healthcare and the digital sector.

The Financial Times wrote that the European authorities are also working to reduce dependence on China for the purchase of critical components. The European Union wants to ensure that local companies diversify imports so that components are supplied from at least four different suppliers.

Callas earlier, on May 17, accused Russia, China and the United States of wanting to "disband the European Union," because together the countries of the bloc are "much stronger." She said that it is easier for Moscow and Washington to deal with individual countries, "which are much smaller" than with a bloc capable of acting on equal terms, RBC reminds.