EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday warned Europe must stand on its own in an increasingly hostile world, blasting Russia over a drone strike in Poland and demanding tougher action against Israel for its offensive in Gaza.
In her annual State of the EU address,Ursula von der Leyenwarned that "battlelines for a new world order based on power are being drawn right now".
"So, yes,Europemust fight. For its place in a world in which many major powers are either ambivalent or openly hostile to Europe," she said.
Framing the challenge as Europes independence moment, the Commission president issued a rallying call as she fends off backlash over a trade deal with US PresidentDonald Trump.
Her warning comes with the EU weighed down by the fourth year of theUkrainewar now threatening to spill over its borders and a lack of unity on how to confront the worsening crisis in Gaza.
"Europe will defend every inch of its territory"
In the face of sporadic heckling from some lawmakers, von der Leyen gave a trenchant defence of her deal with Trump arguing that it had helped avert the "chaos" of atrade war.
But it was the actual war happening just beyond the bloc's eastern flank that focused attention afterPolandandNATOscrambled their defences to counter an incursion by Russian drones.
"Just today, we have seen a reckless and unprecedented violation of Poland and Europe's airspace by more than 10 Russian Shahed drones," von der Leyen said.
Read moreNATO says its air defences helped counter drones in Polish airspace
Building up its defences is a central part of the EU's agenda and von der Leyen said "Europe will defend every inch of its territory".
"Europe's eastern flank keeps all of Europe safe. From the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. This is why we must invest in supporting it," she said.
As the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine drags on despite a peace push by Trump, von der Leyen pledged to keep up support for Kyiv and pressure on Moscow.
She said that the EU wanted to make sure that Russia would ultimately pay the cost for the damage it has inflicted in Ukraine, with its frozen assets going to fund a new "reparation loan".
Brussels will also host an international summit on trying to return abducted Ukrainian children, she said.
Sanctions and partial trade suspension against Israel
While the EU has managed to remain largely united on Ukraine, it has been ridden by divisions over its stance on thewar on Gazaand has struggled to take action againstIsraeldespite growing public ire.
Von der Leyen, who has long portrayed herself as a staunch ally of Israel, called now for a tougher stance saying she would propose measures including sanctioning "extremist" Israeli ministers and to curb trade ties.
"What is happening in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the world. People killed while begging for food. Mothers holding lifeless babies. These images are simply catastrophic," von der Leyen said.
"Man-made famine can never be a weapon of war. For the sake of the children, for the sake of humanity - this must stop."
Left-wing lawmakers wore red in protest at the continuing suffering in Gaza, with Green leader Bas Eickhout among those assailing the bloc's inaction."Will we only start acting on Gaza when there is no Gaza left?" he asked.
Israel's foreign minister meanwhile accused von der Leyen of "sending the wrong message" with her sanctions threat.
Getting the measures that von der Leyen has proposed by the EU's member states will remain a major challenge.
To avoid deadlocking on foreign policy, von der Leyen made a broader call to reform the EU decision-making process and, in some areas, "break free from the shackles of unanimity" required among 27 capitals.
With AFP
Originally published on France24
