European Union staff working around the world have criticised European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s position on “unconditional support” for the Israeli occupation state, according to Euractiv, a network specialising in EU affairs, which said it had seen a letter from EU staff around the world.
The three-page letter sent to von der Leyen’s office on Friday, 20 October, said: “We are particularly concerned about the unconditional support that the European Commission you represent is providing to one of the parties.”
The media network learned that the letter had been sent to EU delegations around the world, including the European Commission’s representation offices. About 32,000 people are on the EU staff payroll. Nearly 850 staff members are believed to have already signed the letter.
The letter said: “We, a group of staff of the EU Commission and other EU institutions, formally and for personal reasons condemn the terrorist attacks committed by Hamas against defenceless civilians,” and added: “We also strongly condemn the disproportionate reaction of the Israeli government against 2.3 million Palestinian civilians trapped in the Gaza Strip.”
The letter said: “Precisely because of these atrocities, we were surprised by the position taken by the European Commission, and even by other EU institutions, to promote what the press has described as a European cacophony.”
They also wrote that they are concerned about “the apparent indifference shown by our institution over the past few days towards the ongoing massacre of civilians in the Gaza Strip, in disregard of human rights and international humanitarian law”.
Earlier last week, the Commission was forced to retract the early announcement by EU Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi that it would cut “all aid” to the Palestinians, after widespread criticism from other EU institutions and divisions within the EU executive.
Some EU officials and member states also criticised von der Leyen, who visited Israel last Friday, 13 October, for not declaring that the EU expects Israel to abide by international humanitarian law in its response to the attack, as other EU leaders did.
A source at the Elysée told the media network Euractiv after an initial extraordinary meeting of EU foreign ministers on the matter: “The position of the member states was expressed in particular through the Council, in this case by High Representative Josep Borrell, after discussion among the member states.”
President of the European Council Charles Michel said on Tuesday, 17 October, that Israel’s siege of Gaza, where “neither water nor food can enter, does not respect international law”.
In their letter, the EU staff said they do not recognise European values in the Commission’s position. “We urge you to call, together with the leaders of the whole Union, for a ceasefire and the protection of civilian lives.” The signatories added that this is the essence of the European Union’s existence.
They warned that “the European Union risks losing all its credibility”.
