Kostas Arvanitis, the Vice President of the Left and a Member of the European Parliament from SYRIZA, has expressed strong criticism against the recent statements made by Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, regarding the need for the EU to adopt a pragmatic foreign policy. Arvanitis argues that such a stance undermines international law and the core values upon which the European Union is founded, highlighting the grave implications of abandoning a commitment to legal norms in favor of opportunistic interests. He draws parallels between von der Leyen's comments and provocative remarks made by the Greek Prime Minister concerning the legality of certain actions under discussion.

Just two days after von der Leyen suggested that Europe could no longer preserve the old world order, her attempt to placate critics by reaffirming the EU's commitment to international law seems undermined by the very nature of her prior statements. Arvanitis believes that both her remarks and those of the Greek Prime Minister justify illegal actions, specifically referencing American military interventions in countries like Iran and Venezuela. He condemns the notion that European leaders would turn a blind eye to legality in favor of justifying actions aligned with U.S. policies.

Arvanitis's comments raise significant concerns about the future direction of EU foreign policy and its moral and ethical commitments. The fear is that by prioritizing national interests or aligning closely with the U.S. agenda, Europe risks losing its identity as a promoter of international law and global stability. This situation necessitates a thorough reevaluation of foreign policy principles within the EU, as members grapple with the balance between pragmatism and adherence to international norms.