Billy Kelleher: Ursula von der Leyen does not speak for the EU on Israel

Irish Examiner

17-06-2025

Twelve months ago, the screw was being turned on the Fianna Fáil MEPs to do a U-turn on their previous commitments not to vote for Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission president. The body politic, the chattering classes, and Ireland's political elite all sought to put pressure on us to go back on the promise we made to our voters. We quite rightly resisted.
Twelve months on, Ms von der Leyen's recent utterances on the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict prove, in my opinion, that we were right to withhold our support for her re-election.
Quite simply, the Commission president cannot help herself when it comes to Israel and the Middle East. So when presented with an opportunity to give fulsome, wholehearted and unequivocal support to Israel, she always jumps at the chance.
In the immediate aftermath of Israel launching missile strikes on Iran, the Commission president tweeted that she had already spoken to prime minister Netanyahu and that 'Israel has a right to defend itself.' Israel does have a right to defend itself. Nevertheless, did Iran attack Israel in such a way that warranted the actions of the last week?
Just spoke with Prime Minister @netanyahu.
We are following developments in the Middle East with deep concern.
I reiterated our commitment to peace, stability, and diplomatic efforts leading to de-escalation.
In this context, I underlined that Israel has the right to defend… — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) June 15, 2025
One has to ask 'why now?' Was the attack an attempt to distract from the ongoing genocide in Gaza or to scuttle the proposed two-state solution conference? Only the Israeli authorities can answer that question, but prime minister Netanyahu does have form in this regard.
Of course, we all know that Iran is a rogue state. The evidence is clear that they are attempting to develop nuclear capacities for military purposes. This is something we should all be extremely concerned about if we want to make the world a safer place.
However, Israel cannot simply launch its own pre-emptive strike whenever it sees fit. There is a global order, international law, and diplomatic channels to follow and respect.
What is worse is that Israel has also developed nuclear capacities in the last number of decades. The global community should be just as worried about this development as they are about Iran getting nuclear weapons.
Von der Leyen strays beyond her competence
Getting back to Ms von der Leyen and her actions, it is obvious that she is straying outside of her competences as Commission president. The Treaties are quite clear on the issue of foreign policy.
Article 18(2) of the Treaties on the European Union is clear. The High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, in conjunction with the president of the European Council, António Costa, speaks on behalf of the European Union on agreed foreign policy matters.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen flanked by the office holders who speak on behalf of the EU on agreed foreign policy matters — EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, and European Council president António Costa. Picture: Kin Cheung/PA
Unfortunately, Ms von der Leyen does not seem to accept or respect the treaties that frame and govern our Union. As per the principle of the Rule of Law, all European Union officials, no less the Commission president, must respect the division of powers and responsibilities within the EU institutions.
The Commission president is consistently encroaching into areas that are not hers to lead on. It is part of her policy of centralising power in her and in the people she surrounds herself with.
One only has to look at how she has reformed the reporting structures in the College of Commissioners to neutralise the power of the executive vice presidents and make herself the dominant decision-maker.
EU's role as honest broker
Under Ms von der Leyen's leadership, the European Union has moved away from the traditional role it played for decades in the Middle East, which is that of an honest broker committed to finding a peaceful two-state solution. The vast majority of the Arab world, but especially the Palestinian people, view the EU as being on the side of Israel, no matter what.
It is hard to disagree with this assessment.
The EU has been unwilling to sanction the Israeli leadership, something the UK, Canada and Australia have been able to do. We are prevaricating over the possible suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which gives preferential access to Israel to the European Single Market.
Failure to face up to Israel
Any honest appraisal of Israel's actions since Hamas' barbaric attacks on October 7, 2023 would determine it is grossly in breach of its human rights obligations under that agreement. Yet, as a Union, due to historical guilt, arising from the brutality of the Holocaust in certain member states, we cannot bring ourselves to do the right thing.
It is time that the European Parliament, and indeed the member states, reminded Ms von der Leyen of the limitations on her powers.
She should remember that the role of Commission president was designed to be that of a balanced chair of the College of Commissioners; not that of an all-powerful chief and certainly not the single voice on foreign policy.
There has been movement regarding the attitudes towards Israel among EU member states. Even the new German chancellor threatened to take steps in response to the breaches of humanitarian law by Israel.
Ms Von der Leyen must take heed of these shifts. She can no longer staunchly defend her position in the face of what is unfolding in Gaza, and can no longer act as an unaccountable voice of the EU.
Billy Kelleher is the head of the Fianna Fáil delegation in the European Parliament and MEP for Ireland South