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Ursula von der Leyen has been warned the European Union is essentially irrelevant on the world stage, with the Hamas attack on Israel underlining the fact that \u201cnobody cares what Europe thinks\u201d.<\/p>\n
The scathing analysis further suggested the bloc had been \u201crelegated to the role of a well-meaning NGO\u201d whose \u201chumanitarian contributions\u201d were welcomed, but which was \u201cotherwise ignored\u201d.<\/p>\n
Brussels\u2019 response to the attack, in which more than 1,000 Israelis are known to have been killed so far, has been under the microscope this week.<\/p>\n
Confusion reigned earlier this week after European Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi unilaterally announced funding to Palestine was being cut off – only for the European Commission, of which Ms von der Leyen is President, issuing a statement denying this afterwards.<\/p>\n
Josep Borrell, the EU\u2019s top diplomat, also raised eyebrows by claiming Israel\u2019s actions since Saturday\u2019s attacks – for example cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza – were \u201cagainst international law\u201d.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: <\/strong> More than 100 British fighters join battle against Hamas in Israel<\/strong><\/p>\n Matthew Karnitschnig, Politico\u2019s chief European correspondent, in an op-ed published on the site yesterday, said: \u201cNo one cares what Europe thinks.<\/p>\n \u201cAcross an array of global flashpoints, from Nagorno-Karabakh to Kosovo to Israel, Europe has been relegated to the role of a well-meaning NGO, whose humanitarian contributions are welcomed, but is otherwise ignored.\u201d<\/p>\n Given its very nature – made up of 27 individual member states – the bloc had \u201calways struggled to articulate a coherent foreign policy\u201d, Mr Karnitschnig pointed out.<\/p>\n He continued: \u201cInstead of the \u201cgeopolitical\u201d powerhouse Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised when she took office in 2019, the EU has devolved into a pan-European minnow, offering a degree of bemusement to the real players at the top table, while mostly just embarrassing itself amid its cacophony of contradictions.\u201d<\/p>\n Specifically, he pointed to the confusion resulting from Mr Varhelyi\u2019s announcement that the EU was suspending \u00a3600 million in aid to the Palestinian Authority \u201cimmediately\u201d, with fellow commissioner Janez Lenarcic directly contradicting him a few hours later.<\/p>\n Borrell himself went further, insisting: \u201cWe will have to support more, not less.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Karnitshnig said: \u201cTo sum up: Over the course of just 24 hours, the Commission went from announcing it would suspend all aid to the Palestinians to signalling it would increase the flow of funds.\u201d<\/p>\n The EU\u2019s response to what was unfolding on the ground in Israel was also disjointed, he claimed.<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> Mr Borrell condemned what he called Hamas\u2019 \u201cbarbaric and terrorist attack\u201d.<\/p>\n However, he also criticised Israel and lamenting the suffering of the Palestinians.<\/p>\n In contrast, Ms von der Leyen roundly condemned the attacks on social media and had Israeli flag projected onto the side of her office.<\/p>\n Later on in the week, Israel had declined to participate in an emergency meeting in Oman to discuss the crisis, called by Mr Borrell.<\/p>\n Mr Karnitshnig commented: \u201cThat\u2019s not too surprising, considering Europe\u2019s record on Iran, which has supported Hamas for decades and whose leadership celebrated the weekend attacks.<\/p>\n \u201cThough Iran denies direct involvement, many analysts say Hamas\u2019 carefully planned assault would not have been possible without training and logistical support from Tehran.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Borrell also travelled to Iran in a bid to restart talks aimed at rebooting Iran\u2019s controversial nuclear deal with the West, despite Israeli objections, Mr Karnitshnig said.<\/p>\n He concluded: \u201cNow Europe has to live with the consequences of that misguided policy and its loss of credibility in Israel, the region\u2019s only democracy.\u201c<\/p>\nIran: Josep Borrell ‘resumes’ JCPOA talks with Tehran<\/h3>\n
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