European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said “no one does more” than the EU for Gaza after being asked why the commission appeared to be “dragging its feet” on action against Israel.
The former German defence minister also said that the continued expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank was “utterly unacceptable” and while there was “a lot of activity” in the EU on the matter, there was no agreement “on how to proceed”.
Ms von der Leyen and EU commissioners met Irish ministers in Cork as Ireland kicked off its six-month term as president of the Council of the EU.
It will see Ireland host hundreds of EU meetings and visits by EU leaders and officials.
Ms von der Leyen and Irish premier Micheál Martin were asked about the Limerick-based refinery Aughinish Alumina, the multi-annual EU budget and sub-sea cables during a press conference in the Aula Maxima room at University College Cork.
In a press conference on Friday afternoon, Ms von der Leyen said that “the ball is in the court of the member states” to take action about the EU-Israel Association Agreement and to sanction Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Asked why she and the commission were “dragging” their feet on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, she responded that she wanted to “set the record straight”.
“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.
“Since October 23 we have earmarked over 2.7 billion euros in humanitarian aid and budget support.
“We have organised 85 humanitarian aid bridge flights, and delivered more than 5,600 tonnes of essential supplies. So, this, I think, is important to know – no one does more than us.”
Ms von der Leyen said the continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank “is utterly unacceptable and the violence used to achieve this expansion is abhorrent”.
She said a proposal to “suspend trade preferences under the EU Israeli Association Agreement” was made 10 months ago by the commission and would have a “significant economic impact”, 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 said “many” member states have proposed sanctioning Mr Ben-Gvir but “no consensus has been reached”.
“You see, there is activity, and a lot of activity going on in the Council right now, no move forward with a solution or an agreement on how to proceed.”
Ms von der Leyen also admitted there is “still quite a lot of work to do” to solve issues with the entry/exit system (EES) which are creating long queues at European ports and airports.
She was asked why “thousands, if not millions, of people” have been stuck in lines at borders and what is being done to solve the problem.
She said the EES, which was 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 that are set for entering or exiting the European Union”.
She added the EU is working with member states to solve technical problems but conceded: “There’s still quite a lot of work to do to have these technical issues solved together with the member states.”
Another question to Ms von der Leyen addressed reports the bloc could introduce a social media ban for young people from September.
She said she hoped an expert report, due to be presented to her on July 13, would give a “comprehensive concept about social media delay for different age groups”.
After that, she said, the Commission will work to develop a legal proposal for the EU.
“It is not a question of when children or teenagers would have access to social media,” she said.
It is more a question of when “social media has access to our children and teenagers”.
In his opening address, Mr Martin said that Ireland would work to “strengthen the European Union’s role as a principled global actor”, including by pushing for peace in the Middle East.
Ms von der Leyen and the EU commissioners landed on Thursday in Cork, Mr Martin’s home city.
Ms von der Leyen was greeted by Mr Martin at Cork City Hall where she was presented with a vase etched with the slogan for Ireland’s presidency – “Ní neart go cur le chéile – Strength with unity”.
They then visited the Tyndall National Institute to hear about research on various issues including semiconductors.
“It was absolutely amazing to see that – for me, it perfectly sets the tone of the Irish presidency and the innovation powerhouse that is,” said Ms von der Leyen.
“Europe is bridging a gap we have struggled along with.
“We have to move from the test to the scale, and that was yesterday also the motto at the visit.
“They had said ‘we have all the ingredients that are necessary, we have the talent, we have the innovation, the research, and the development, we have the infrastructure, we have the capital – if we get a Capital Market Union – but what we now need is scale’.
“I think this, as I said, sets the tone for this presidency.”
Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union officially began on Wednesday, with a ceremony at Dublin Castle attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Its priorities will have the three themes of competitiveness, values, and security.
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