We should not cry after the Iranian dictatorship, and the bill of 3 billion euros for 10 days of war is a consequence of the lack of renewable resources and nuclear energy, Von der Leyen claims. The new European pragmatism was severely taxed.
Ursula von der Leyen did not want to upset Trump. PHOTO: Wind Europe
“When Trump starts another war, European citizens pay the price!“, said Terry Reintke, the president of the parliamentary group of the Greens in the European Parliament during a debate that took place in Strasbourg. The head of the S&D group, Iratxe Garcia Perez, expressed herself even more plastically: “Trump throws the “party” and Europe pays the bill.“
The fact that Europe is paying a very high price for the war in Iran was not denied by any of the MEPs who spoke at the debate on the situation in the Middle East. Even the president of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, showed that the 10 days of war in Iran cost Europe no less than 3 billion euros, the amount needed to cover the deficit of fossil fuels created by the interruption of the supply from the Middle East.
European parliamentarians who debated the situation in the Middle East were divided into two camps, those who argued that the EU should condemn the violation of international law by the US and Israel through actions against Iran and those who chose a pragmatic approach, according to the new direction given by the Commission President earlier in the week, when in a speech to EU ambassadors she argued that Europe “can no longer be the guardian of the old world order” and should have a more pragmatic approach.
“We must not shed a single tear for the regime in Iran”
Ursula von der Leyen argued that “we must not shed a single tear for the regime in Iran” who committed atrocities on his own people and sponsored terrorism. She pointed out that many Iranians celebrated the fall of the ayatollah.
“The EU's first responsibility is to protect its citizens and prepare for the impact of this conflict”continued the president.
She argued that the 52% increase in the price of gas and 27% in the price of oil since the start of the Iran war should be a lesson to Europe: “As long as fossil fuels from unstable areas represent an important share of European consumption, we are vulnerable”.
The main problem, the European official said, is that we are not using renewable energy sources and nuclear power to their true potential.
“There are voices that say we should abandon the long-term energy strategy and go back to fossil fuels from Russia, I think that would be a monumental blunder because it would increase our dependence.”von der Leyen continued.
The cost of energy in the EU – 56% of the bill, the rest are taxes
Speaking about what needs to be done to avoid energy price fluctuations, she explained that at the moment, in the EU, only 56% of a European citizen's energy bill is the actual cost of energy, the rest being represented by various taxes and excises.
In the face of criticism from the executive vice-president of the European Commission – Teresa Ribera (Spanish left), who claimed that the statements about giving up the role of guardian of the old world order were not “the most appropriate way to express yourself” and of the President of the European Council, António Costa, who insisted that “power politics” cannot replace international law – Ursula von der Leyen qualified her statement.
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“Seeing the world as it is in no way diminishes our determination to fight for the world we want”said the president who emphasized that the EU was founded “as a peace project” and that it will “always defend these principlesNot a word about US and Israeli action in Iran.
That did not save her from harsh criticism from some heads of political groups in the EP who reproached her for not condemning the violation of international law by the US and Israel's action against Iran, but also the statement regarding the EU's renunciation of the role of guardian of the old world order.
“The problem is not whether the world order is old or new, the problem is who you let violate that order!”
One of the most vehement criticisms came from the head of the Socialists and Democrats group, Iratxe Garcia Perez: “No to war, yes to international law, that's how most European citizens feel. You, Mrs. von der Leyen, said that Europe can no longer be the guardian of the old world order. But the problem is not whether the world order is old or new, the problem is who you let violate this order!”
When Europe responds complacently to violations of international law, “we open the door to autocrats like Trump and Netanyahu“, said the MEP.
“You justified the attack in Iran by saying that we should not cry for the dictatorship in Iran, you are right, no one cries for the dictatorship in Iran, that's why we imposed sanctions on Iran, but it's one thing not to cry and another to be silent in the face of the death of innocents” claimed Iratxe Garcia Perez. She spoke of the hundreds of Iranian civilians killed by the bombings in Iran.
The Spanish socialist reproached the President of the Commission for not being in solidarity with the Spanish Prime Minister's protest message condemning the action in Iran by the US and Israel.
“The EU was established to replace the law of the strongest with the force of law. This is the principle that must be defended against autocrats”she concluded.
“The EU must keep Ukraine's fight against Russia at the 'center' of its foreign policy”
Jordan Bardella, ECR president and French presidential candidate from the far-right group Patriots for Europe, said the US and Israeli strikes on Iran have “threw the Middle East into a new period of instability”without criticizing US and Israeli intervention.
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European Conservatives and Reformists co-chair Nicola Procaccini said the EU must keep Ukraine's fight against Russia at the “centre” of its foreign policy.
Europe should “reaffirms its commitment to international law”said Liberal leader of Renew Europe, Valérie Hayer, adding that Europe must “to become the greatest economic and commercial power in the world” to have more influence in global business.
“Ms von der Leyen, courage means not going to war”said the vice-president of the Green group, Diana Riba.
Manon Aubry, head of the European Left, argued that the war waged by the US and Israel in Iran is illegal. “Negotiations were at an advanced stage and Iran was ready to give up nuclear energy. Anyone who thinks we can bring democracy with war has learned nothing from Afghanistan.”. She also said Trump's goal is to cover up the Epstein files and flawed domestic policy.
The debates showed that there are wide differences of opinion on the EU's position on the Iran war. Next week, the European Council is expected to adopt a unified position, but it is hard to believe that a consensus will be reached.
Europe is an important “casualty” of the war in Iran, whether we are talking about the increase in the price of fuel, or whether we are talking about a possible new wave of emigrants that can destabilize the continent similar to the situation during the war in Syria. However, Europe is not invited to the table of major global geopolitical decisions.
