Brussels, my love? Von der Leyen vouches to 'fight for Europe'

Published on 13/09/2025 - 7:00 GMT+2

Did you watch nan speech? Striking an alarmist tone, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said for complete an hr successful nan European Parliament this Wednesday. From a drone confederation pinch Ukraine to a European Affordable Housing Plan, she expressed her 'wish list' for Europe opening pinch nan building - "Europe is successful a fight".

Andrea Wechsler, nan German blimpish MEP, Barry Andrews, nan Irish wide and Robert Biedron nan Polish socialist followed nan reside from wrong nan hemicycle and felt nan constituent was correct but must beryllium followed pinch actual steps.

"I really want this Commission to commencement delivering," Robert Biedron said alluding to nan Russian drone incursion successful Polish airspace this week.

"There is monolithic austerity, location are lodging issues and of people you tin make a bully speech, arsenic Ursula von der Leyen did, and I support almost everything she said, including this e-car [material] wherever EPP was booing her," he continued. "But I request her to deliver".

Barry Andrews saw nan reside arsenic a clever measurement to merge nan centrist groups of nan European Parliament. He called retired nan leaders of nan European People's Party and nan Socialists and Democrats for heckling passim nan reside and not supporting nan centrist policies projected by nan Commission President.

"If we are superior astir nan superior threats that we person arsenic a continent, arsenic a Union, past we person to commencement correct present to rebuild nan cardinal coalition, nan pro-European coalition," said Andrews.

Calls for sanctions against Israel

The sheet besides reacted to nan European Commission President's harsher reside against nan actions of nan authorities of Benjamin Netanyahu to annihilate Hamas. Calling nan business successful Gaza 'unacceptable', Von der Leyen projected a suspension of nan waste and acquisition portion of nan EU-Israel Association Agreement.

Barry Andrews called it a large alteration successful tone.

"It sends a very clear connection to Israel," said Andrews. "I deliberation it really makes Israelis beryllium up consecutive and I deliberation it's good beyond clip it should person been done."

Andrea Wechsler, a German MEP from nan aforesaid governmental statement arsenic von der Leyen was wary. In fact, galore EPP MEPS were transverse pinch her for "surprising" them pinch this alteration of stance.

"There's surely not a unified position connected this," said Wechsler. "We are still successful statement successful Europe astir really we respond to nan Gaza dramatics that we're seeing."

Watch "Brussels, my love?" successful nan subordinate above.