Kilkenny MEP calls on Ursula Von der Leyen to resign over failure on Gaza slaughter, stance on CAP, and other issues

Sinn Féin Ireland South MEP Kathleen Funchion has called on Ursula von der Leyen to resign following the EU president's State of the Union address this morning.

Ms Funchion described the address as 'a missed opportunity to outline meaningful action on Gaza, commit to protecting CAP and Cohesion Policy, and return to an agenda centred on providing for people on the ground'.

Calling on President von der Leyen to resign, Ms Funchion said her priorities 'do not align with the people of Europe'.

“We are now at a crucial time for the EU with regard to both internal and external challenges. Yet the Commission’s response to the genocide and man-made humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has been appalling, eroding public trust in the EU for good reason," said MEP Funchion.
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“By refusing to use the word genocide in her speech, Ursula von der Leyen diminished the full scale of what Israel is doing in Gaza. The Commission must take meaningful action to end the Israeli bombardment of Gaza and end the suffering of Palestinians trapped there, by pushing for an immediate ceasefire and guaranteeing an independent Palestinian State.

“This speech was also a missed opportunity for the President to show the EU is committed to peace and diplomacy rather than pumping more money into militarisation.

"Furthermore, I would have liked to have seen commitment to respecting the environment and our interests in trade by dropping deals, such as Mercosur, that would serve to undermine European communities and producers.

“The Commission should take on board the huge amount of negative feedback with regard to the upcoming Budget proposal. They should abandon plans to cut and merge CAP and Cohesion Policy. These funds must be kept stand-alone and should be ring-fenced and increased to reflect inflation.

“I was disappointed there was no mention of the dire need for action on tackling violence against women and girls across the EU. The Commission must urge member states who have not yet to ratify the Istanbul convention to do so and encourage the implementation of the Directive on Violence against Women and Girls with haste.

“The Commission must return to an agenda focused on delivering for the people of Europe, making life easier for those who are still feeling the effects of years of high price inflation.

“It is welcome that von der Leyen mentioned the need to revise the state aid for housing, but we now need to see this followed up with concrete action.

”The President should have committed to return to a Europe that prioritises workers, farmers, and communities rather than big business and militarisation. I believe to achieve what I have outlined above, there must be a change of Commission and I call on Von der Leyen to resign her post.”