Von der Leyen seeks to ease tensions within the EU and moves closer to the Government: 'Unwavering commitment to international law'

The President of the European Commission is trying to reduce the polarization and tension that have escalated so much within the EU.

“The President of the European Commission is trying to reduce the polarization and tension that have escalated so much within the EU”

El Mundo

In her speech to the European Parliament to analyze the situation of the conflict in the Middle East, Ursula von der Leyen substantially lowered her tone and moved closer to the Government of Spain.

El Mundo

"Our unwavering commitment to seeking peace, to the principles of the United Nations Charter and to international law is today as central as it was at the time of our founding. And we will always defend these principles," she said.

That is, everything the government of Pedro Sánchez had demanded.

Von der Leyen did precede that sentence with a reaffirmation of the position she showed at the start of the week when, before the EU ambassadors, she asserted that "Europe cannot be the guardian of the old world order that has already disappeared."

"Seeing the world as it is in no way diminishes our determination to fight for the world we want," she said, trying to emphasize that the world has changed.

El Mundo

She also said: "More than 17,000 died while the regime clung to power. But the crimes of this regime go back decades. It imprisoned and tortured its own citizens. It sponsored terrorism across the region and even on European soil. And it provided crucial support to Russia's brutal war against Ukraine. No tear should be shed for such a regime," echoing one of Monday's references.

In any case, the turnaround after two days of pressure and attacks from the socialist sphere and the Government of Spain is evident.

Members of the Spanish government and EU figures criticized von der Leyen.

“The President of the European Commission is trying to reduce the polarization and tension that have escalated so much within the EU”

El Mundo

The Vice President of the Commission for the Green Transition, Teresa Ribera; the President of the European Council, António Costa; and various members of the Spanish government, including President Sánchez, have criticized von der Leyen to a greater or lesser extent.

President Sánchez stresses in an interview granted to elDiario.es that "the world is changing, but the values and principles of the European Union should not change."

Responses were exchanged and both the European People's Party and von der Leyen herself replied.

Socialist MEP Jonás Fernández posted on X that "There are those who are earning themselves a motion of no confidence through their own actions," which the article describes as "Nothing official, nothing at the group level, but a warning."

The article concludes that the attempt to reduce tension today is evident in a speech that fully reflects the position of the Government and of the socialists, who at one point tried to show some flirtation with a possible motion of no confidence.