Mohamed Bouazizi set himself ablaze in mid December 2010 triggering a revolution in Tunisia, and the wider era of rebellion known as the Arab spring. When airing my views back then I exercised caution. Caution because while I was hopeful for the realization of the democratic aspirations of our southern neighbors I was also concerned for what would fill the vacuum once authoritarian regimes where overthrown.

Democracy is dynamic and ever evolving, it is more than a fixed set of rules and polity. It requires a particular mindset and tradition. Western-style democracy hoisted on countries not prepared for it seems very likely to falter. Democratic systems evolve over centuries and generations, they fail and are rebuilt and eventually some form of imperfect stability is sustained.

The instability in our immediate neighborhood is reminiscent of the period following Bouazizi’s ultimate act of protest. But it is not just in Libya that there is upheaval. Israel is currently conducting an extensive operation in Gaza, where at the time of writing the death toll is nearing 2000 and to the Northeast, Russia continues to occupy Crimea and despite the outrage over the its role in the downing of flight MH 17, nothing seems to have changed in eastern Ukraine, where Russia-back rebels continue to cause chaos and mayhem.

The state of affairs in these troubled regions are incredibly diverse but what they have in common is the European Union’s seeming continued inability to unite in an effort to effectively influence events at its doorstep. It took the downing of MH 17 for EU leaders to consider implementing phase 3 sanctions. These are sanctions that target specific sectors of the Russian economy and hit Putin where he is weakest. Russia’s growth projections for this year are nearing zero as the country edges towards recession.

The turmoil came at a less than ideal time for the EU, as the leadership is in the process of being established for the next five years. This month we saw the posts of President of the European Commission and President of the European Parliament being filled but when it comes to international affairs it is the EU’s High Representative and the European Council President that are meant to run the show.

Efforts made to seal these posts at the last Summit were unsuccessful and Council will meet again at the end of August for this purpose. But the EU’s difficulty is that its position on foreign policy is reflective of the lowest common denominator that can be established between member states – and this is generally not very much.

In a multitude of areas, perhaps most notably those related to the economy, our size and diversity is our strength. While in international affairs it is the determinant of a weakness that is likely to linger. The solution is far from clear but possibilities should be explored. One could opt to increase the High Representative’s room for maneuver or to appoint persons to these role with an international stature that ensures that what little is said is, at least, heard and taken note of.

It could be argued that in diplomacy and international relations there are instances where the inability to formulate a strong position is a blessing in disguise. It certainly instigates low-confrontation policies and rhetoric. But it can also be argued that when it really matters, in a world of ever larger blocks of spheres of influence, EU member states are left to voice their weak solitary calls because they are incapable of standing strong and together.

The escalation of tension in Libya is troubling. All the more so because a solution seems more and more elusive as time goes by. The only positive development is the release of Maltese oil worker Mario Galea who was abducted and held hostage in Libya. To all those that played a role in securing his release: a massive well done

David Casa is a Nationalist MEP