The words of the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, have generated a lot of excitement within the European Union itself. Von der Leyen said the rules-based system must be defended, but “we can no longer rely on them as the only way to defend our interests.”
This provoked a barrage of criticism that positioned her as a defender of war and Donald Trump, among other comments. That is why he has rectified his statements, although in the opinion of journalist Juan de Dios Colmenero it is “more an attempt to reduce tension and tension than a rectification”, as he commented in At last.
According to Colmenero, the European Commission has always defended the rules-based system and what the president expressed is that “now in the face of the disaster and misfortune of Donald Trump, the milk has already been spilled, what option should be taken?”
What was missing was a crisis in European institutions while China, Russia, the US rub their hands…
However, the message was misinterpreted, so today he has “clarified” it with the aim of “reducing the tension”, because what is of least interest at the moment is that there is a crisis within the EU taking into account “the one that is falling” -threats, crises due to the increase in the price of oil that has an impact on inflation…-. “What was missing was a crisis in the European institutions while China, Putin, the United States rub their hands…” Colmenero lamented.
“Let me point out something important. Seeing the world as it is does not in any way diminish our determination to fight for the world we want. The EU was founded as a peace project,” he stated in a debate held in Strasbourg (France) just one week before the EU heads of state and government meet at a summit in Brussels.
Von der Leyen has assured that the EU has “an unwavering commitment” to the search for peace, the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, which are “fundamental.” Furthermore, he has maintained his firm rejection of the Iranian regime, but has reiterated that “seeing the world as it is does not diminish in any way the determination to fight for the world we want.”
Division among Spanish MEPs
Von der Leyen’s words have caused an internal stir among MEPs. From Sumar, MEP Estrella Galán has accused the president of the Commission of pushing the EU towards “an illegal war.” Along similar lines, MEP Irene Montero has called for leaving NATO. Regarding the PSOE, MEP Hanna Jalloul has criticized that a unilateral military intervention without approval from the UN Security Council violates International Law.
For her part, PP MEP Dolors Montserrat has attacked the Iranian regime, which she has described as a “totalitarian dictatorship” that exports terrorism and has accused Pedro Sánchez of being “an unscrupulous leader” and a “liar.” From Vox, MEP Jorge Buxadé has criticized European institutions for what he considers a foreign policy that has weakened Europe in the face of international threats.
