EU states ‘fed up’ with von der Leyen – Politico
EU member states are growing frustrated with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over her unilateral approach to foreign policy, Politico reported on Wednesday, citing diplomats. The latest criticism reportedly comes after von der Leyen announced a partnership agreement with Jordan.
The deal was inked last week following talks between von der Leyen and King Abdullah II. It aims to assist Jordan in facing the socio-economic impact of the Syrian crisis and broaden avenues for investments and business opportunities in the Arab country. The deal will be complemented by €3 billion ($3.1 billion) in financial resources, comprising grants, investments, and macro-financial assistance.
However, according to two sources who spoke to Politico, von der Leyen made the decision to allocate the funds to Jordan without consulting EU member nations.
“We were confronted with a fait accompli while we’re the ones footing the bill,” an EU diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity told the news outlet.
“It’s not the first time von der Leyen pulls a stunt like this because she wants to make nice with world leaders. [Member countries] are increasingly fed up with it,” he added. The source did not mention other instances when the commission chief had failed to discuss her decisions with EU members.
According to the report, there has been much discontent over von der Leyen’s power-grabbing tactics, especially in foreign policy – an area traditionally managed by the European Council and the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs.
“Ursula von der Leyen has been grabbing the [smallest] crumb of foreign power on every occasion,” MEP Nacho Sanchez Amor told the news outlet. He argued that the growing concentration of foreign policy decisions within the European Commission runs counter to the bloc’s foundational treaties, according to which foreign policy should remain under the purview of member states.
“We have assumed uncritically that foreign policy is bending towards the commission, and this is not the treaties’ framework,” he said, calling for a formal debate on the issue.
Von der Leyen’s centralized approach has reportedly been a point of contention since her first term, resulting in strained relationships with former European Council President Charles Michel and the bloc’s former top diplomat, Josep Borrell.
Prior to von der Leyen’s reelection for the top job last year, there were also reports that many EU states were dissatisfied with her excessive focus on climate and the weakening economy, along with nepotism and non-transparency of her policies. Von der Leyen has changed her agenda since being reelected in June, placing more emphasis on the bloc’s competitiveness and defense.
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Farage’s Reform UK overtakes Labour in poll for first time
Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK party has overtaken Labour for the first time in a YouGov voting intention poll, topping the rankings ahead of both major parties in the country.
The poll, published Monday, found that if a general election were held tomorrow, 25% of British voters would back Reform, 24% would support Labour, and 21% would vote Conservative.
The survey, conducted on February 2-3 for Sky News, recorded Reform’s joint-highest score to date, up from 23% in the previous poll on January 26-27.
Labour, which won last year’s general election in a landslide, fell three points compared to January, while the Liberal Democrats and the Greens remained steady at 14% and 9%, respectively.
Farage took to X to share the poll, declaring: “Britain wants Reform.” Just six months after the party secured its first five MPs, the survey suggested Reform would win 76 seats in a general election today – 60 of them currently held by Labour.
The next UK general election is due by 2029. Since taking office last year, Labour has faced economic stagnation and mounting pressure for reforms across key sectors.
Farage, seen as Labour’s main challenger, has gained traction among voters disillusioned with both Labour and the Conservatives. Reform UK advocates stricter immigration controls, a ban on transgender ideology in schools, and tax cuts for small businesses to spur economic growth. It also opposes net-zero carbon targets, arguing they harm the economy.
Elon Musk, appointed as a “special government employee” to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under US President Donald Trump, has described Reform as “the only way to save” the UK. Reports suggested he was considering a donation of up to $100 million to Reform UK, although Musk himself denied the claims in December.
The Daily Mail reported last month, citing a party source, that Reform UK maintains “a deep relationship with the US president’s team and talks on a daily basis.” In an interview with the New York Times last month, Farage claimed Musk was still open to making a “sizable” donation.
Musk has previously sought influence in UK politics, even calling for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to be jailed. His involvement in European politics extends beyond the UK – he recently drew criticism from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for endorsing the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead of this month’s parliamentary vote.
As long as AfD is stonewalled by other parties in the Bundestag, there is no hope of rescuing Germany from the Muslim invasion.
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