European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has declared that “no one does more” than the European Union for Gaza, pushing back against criticism that the bloc has been slow to act against Israel. Speaking at a press conference in Cork, Ireland, on Friday, the former German defence minister also described the continued expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank as “utterly unacceptable,” while admitting that EU member states remain divided on how to proceed.
EU Aid and Assistance to Gaza
Von der Leyen was asked why the Commission appeared to be “dragging its feet” on action against Israel. She responded by highlighting the EU’s substantial humanitarian efforts. “First of all, perhaps to set the record straight, we are the world’s largest provider of assistance to the Palestinian people, the largest. No one does more than us,” she said. She noted that since October 23, the EU has earmarked over 2.7 billion euros in humanitarian aid and budget support, organized 85 humanitarian aid bridge flights, and delivered more than 5,600 tonnes of essential supplies.
Stalemate on Sanctions and Settlements
Regarding the EU-Israel Association Agreement, von der Leyen stated that a proposal to suspend trade preferences was made 10 months ago by the Commission but “remains on the table of the member states to vote with a qualified majority. So, the ball is in the court of the member states.” She also noted that while “many” member states have proposed sanctioning Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, “no consensus has been reached.” On West Bank settlements, she said, “the continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank is utterly unacceptable and the violence used to achieve this expansion is abhorrent.”
Ireland’s EU Presidency
Von der Leyen and EU commissioners met Irish ministers in Cork as Ireland began its six-month term as president of the Council of the EU. Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Ireland would work to “strengthen the European Union’s role as a principled global actor,” including by pushing for peace in the Middle East. The presidency’s priorities focus on competitiveness, values, and security.
Technical Issues with Entry/Exit System
Von der Leyen acknowledged ongoing problems with the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), which has caused long queues at European ports and airports. She said the system, fully rolled out in April, “did not change the legal frame about rules of entering and exiting the European Union, it just creates transparency about abiding to the rules.” She added, “There’s still quite a lot of work to do to have these technical issues solved together with the member states.”
Potential Social Media Ban for Youth
Asked about reports of a possible EU social media ban for young people from September, von der Leyen said she hoped an expert report due on July 13 would provide a “comprehensive concept about social media delay for different age groups.” She stressed, “It is not a question of when children or teenagers would have access to social media. It is more a question of when social media has access to our children and teenagers.” The Commission will then develop a legal proposal.
Visit to Tyndall National Institute
Earlier, von der Leyen and Martin visited the Tyndall National Institute, where they heard about research on semiconductors. Von der Leyen praised the institute, saying, “Europe is bridging a gap we have struggled along with. We have to move from the test to the scale.” She added that the visit “sets the tone for this presidency.”
Ireland’s presidency officially began on Wednesday with a ceremony at Dublin Castle attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
