The trouble with “red lines”

“I actually see this as a red line being enforced,” argued Luigi Scazzieri, European foreign and security policy expert at the Centre for European Reform. “Russia’s under crippling sanctions and really didn’t expect that. Yes they could be a bit tougher but people are choosing to see the glass half empty rather than mostly full.”

“This is about the broader issue of red lines being essentially about two things. One, your perceived credibility – are you actually going to enforce them? And two, your ability to enforce them – your capability,” said Scazzieri. The EU lacks the tools to force compliance when both Hungary and Poland are vetoing action on each other. This lack of capability harms its credibility.