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February 05, 2025
from
RT Web Site
European Commission President
Ursula von der Leyen
at the meeting of the EU leaders
in Brussels, Belgium,
December 19, 2024.
© Getty Images / Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto
Members
are increasingly dissatisfied
with the
European Commission chief's failure
to consult
them on foreign policy decisions,
according
to the outlet
Politico...
EU member states are growing frustrated with European Commission
President
Ursula von der Leyen over her
unilateral approach to foreign policy, Politico
reported on Wednesday, citing
diplomats.
The latest criticism reportedly comes after von der Leyen announced
a partnership agreement with Jordan.
The deal was inked last week following talks between von der
Leyen and King Abdullah II.
It aims to assist Jordan in facing the socio-economic impact of
the Syrian crisis and broaden avenues for investments and
business opportunities in the Arab country.
The deal will be complemented by €3 billion ($3.1 billion) in
financial resources, comprising grants, investments, and
macro-financial assistance.
However, according to two sources who spoke to Politico, von
der Leyen made the decision to allocate the funds to Jordan without
consulting EU member nations.
"We were
confronted with a fait accompli
while we're the ones footing the bill," an EU diplomat who spoke
on condition of anonymity told the news outlet.
"It's not the first time von der Leyen pulls a stunt like this
because she wants to make nice with world leaders. [Member
countries] are increasingly fed up with it," he added.
The source did not mention other instances when the commission chief
had failed to discuss her decisions with EU members.
According to the report, there has been much discontent over von der
Leyen's power-grabbing tactics, especially in foreign policy - an
area traditionally managed by the European Council and the EU's high
representative for foreign affairs.
"Ursula von der Leyen has been grabbing the [smallest] crumb of
foreign power on every occasion," MEP
Nacho Sanchez Amor told the
news outlet.
He argued that the growing concentration of foreign policy decisions
within the European Commission runs counter to the bloc's
foundational treaties, according to which foreign policy should
remain under the purview of member states.
"We have assumed uncritically that foreign policy is bending
towards the commission, and this is not the treaties'
framework," he said, calling for a formal debate on the issue.
Von der Leyen's centralized approach has reportedly been a point of
contention since her first term, resulting in strained relationships
with former European Council President Charles Michel and the
bloc's former top diplomat, Josep Borrell.
Prior to von der Leyen's reelection for the top job last year, there
were also reports that many EU states were dissatisfied with her
excessive focus on climate and the weakening economy,
along with nepotism and non-transparency of her policies.
Von der Leyen has changed her agenda since being reelected in June,
placing more emphasis on the bloc's competitiveness and
defense...
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