Outgoing EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has acknowledged criticism of the EU’s “double standards” in its inconsistent stance on the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, saying that this idea spread widely in the countries of the Global South, reports. Before leaving his position, Josep Borrell evaluated his five-year tenure on his blog, reflecting on Gaza and other issues days before former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas succeeds him on Sunday. He said the bloc had not managed to be consistent and effective in the Middle East, saying that after October 7, 2023, when Israel’s relentless offensive on Gaza began following a cross-border Hamas attack, “we were unable to speak with one voice or act effectively enough to help obtain a ceasefire, secure the release of the hostages, and ensure respect for international law and the decisions of the Security Council, the United Nations General Assembly, and the International Court of Justice in the region”.