Politico wrote that they are angry in the EU because of Ursula von der Leyen's mishandling of the Israeli-Palestinian war.
The "shining reputation" of the German politician seems to be wearing down: they complain that he goes beyond his job description, excludes EU governments from decision-making, and governs by decree with a narrow group of advisers.
For many of her international allies, Ursula von der Leyen is the "Mrs. Europe" - a true presidential figure who guided the EU bloc through the COVID-19 pandemic and kept it united in the face of Russia's war on Ukraine.
However, the brilliant reputation of the German politician abroad is increasingly belied by the malaise experienced in the central institutions and capitals of the 27-nation European Union, wrote Politico .
In Brussels, diplomats, legislators and staff members of their own European Commission complain in face-to-face conversations that "VDL"
it goes beyond its job description, excludes EU governments from decision-making and governs by decree with a narrow group of advisers.
Criticisms peaked last weekend, when the President of the European Court of Justice went on an unplanned trip to Israel, which provoked an angry reaction from European diplomats, the Brussels paper pointed out.
Several people told POLITICO they were not happy that Von der Leyen, who had expressed solidarity with the victims of the Hamas attacks,
failed to deliver to Israel their call to respect international law.
The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, even issued a rare public rebuke to his superior. In his opinion, Von der Leyen is not entitled to represent the EU's foreign policy views, which are usually agreed upon by the member states.
"The European Union's official position on any foreign policy [issue] is determined by the directives," Borrell told reporters in Beijing on Saturday. "Foreign policy is decided by the leaders of the 27 EU member states at international summits, and the foreign ministers discuss it at meetings 'chaired by me'," he added.
"She acts like a queen"
European legislator Nathalie Loiseau, a leading member of the Renew Europe faction, joined the above criticism in her post published on X.
I don't understand what the President of the Commission has to do with foreign policy, which is not his competence"
- written by.
Another EU diplomat, who asked to remain anonymous, said Von der Leyen
"behaves more and more like a queen".
Featured image: Yves Herman, Pool via AP
