European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has defended herself against accusations of bias by stressing that the EU was working for the safety of civilians “of all faiths and nationalities”, according to an internal memo seen by Euractiv.
The communication follows after some 850 EU officials sent a letter on Friday (21 October) challenging von der Leyen’s pledge of “unconditional” support to Israel from the EU, as Euractiv reported earlier.
EU officials and member states had also criticised von der Leyen, especially during an extraordinary summit on 17 October, after her visit to Israel on 13 October, for not underlining that Israel must abide by international humanitarian law in its response to the attack, as other EU leaders did.
According to the internal memo, dated 21 October, von der Leyen does not explicitly refer to the complaint letter she received, but stated she wanted to “thank colleagues who have shared their views and feelings regarding these very difficult and emotional developments”.
“The tragic events unfolding in the Middle East are a deep source of concern and sorrow for all of us. (…) At the same time, we are mourning the loss of all the innocent lives in this conflict – of all faiths and of all nationalities,” she wrote.
Von der Leyen also said she is “ready to engage and listen to [EU staff] concerns and suggestions”.
“From the start of this crisis, we have worked around the clock to alleviate the suffering of ALL those affected by the indiscriminate terror attacks,” the memo added.
Earlier this month, the European Commission had to backtrack on its early announcement by Neighbourhood Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi that it would cut “all aid” to Palestinians following widespread criticism from other EU institutions and divisions within the EU executive.
The EU has tripled “humanitarian aid to Gaza and organising an air bridge to bring much-needed support to the Palestinian people”, von der Leyen wrote in her memo.
Referring to “challenging times for all Europeans”, she said that “colleagues – whether Jewish, Muslim, Christian, or non-confessional, are feeling vulnerable, because of who they are and what they believe in”, after citing the Islamist attacks in Arras and Brussels.
Last Friday’s letter criticising her stance on the Israel-Hamas war had been supported by a number of officials working for EU diplomacy around the world.
In her internal memo to EU staff, von der Leyen noted that “colleagues posted in delegations in the region are working in very difficult security and emotional conditions”.
“I want to reassure you that Europe will always be on the side of humanity and of human rights,” she wrote.
“We will work together with the international community to ensure that international humanitarian law is upheld” and that the EU is “redoubling efforts to provide emergency humanitarian aid to civilians affected by this war,” she added.
The aim is “to help bring stability and a lasting peace to the region, based on the two-state solution, as confirmed recently by the European Council”.
[Edited by Alexandra Brzozowski/Nathalie Weatherald]
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Source: euractiv.com
