Social democratic, liberal, and green lawmakers call the decision “a grave error of judgement,” warning that the move risks legitimising the initiative and undermining UN authority, while the Commission defends Suica’s presence.
The decision by the European Commission to send Commissioner Dubravka Suica to a meeting of Donald Trump’s Board of Peace has been called “a grave error of judgement” by social democratic, liberal, and green groups in the European Parliament, according to a Politico report.
The criticism came in a letter sent Friday to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, added the report.
Suica attended Thursday’s first formal meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington, an initiative aimed at overseeing the demilitarisation and reconstruction of Gaza under a UN-endorsed ceasefire framework.
While the European Union has said it does not endorse the initiative and will not participate as a member, Suica’s presence at the meeting sparked controversy and drew sharp criticism from European lawmakers.
“Participation by a Commissioner in a politically contested diplomatic initiative without a defined mandate disrupts the institutional balance and risks breaching the principle of sincere cooperation between EU institutions and Member States,” Politico quoted the letter as saying. “Respect for the Treaties is essential,” it added.
The leaders of the three parliamentary groups argued that the European Commission did not have a mandate to make such a decision.
They said the Commission’s attendance gave visibility and legitimacy to Trump’s Board of Peace while undermining the authority of the United Nations.
“We command the President of the European Commission to clearly disengage from Donald J. Trump’s Board of Peace, to refrain from sending any observer to its meetings, and to cease any form of participation,” the letter read.
The European People’s Party —Ursula von der Leyen’s political family — did not sign the letter.
Bulgaria and Hungary are the only EU members to have formally joined the peace board, with Italy and Romania attending as observers.
On Friday, the Commission defended Suica’s participation.
“At least half of the member states, representative of the member states, participated in this meeting,” said Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier.
“We are not becoming a member of the Board of Peace,” he added, emphasising that Suica attended to contribute “in the wider discussion to ensure a safe future for Gaza and for the Palestinians.”
Chief spokesperson Paula Pinho said that “It is within the remit of the Commission as an external representative of the Union to accept invitations of this kind, as a matter of international courtesy,” when asked about the legal basis for attending.
The letter from the parliamentary groups follows criticism from France Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot wrote on X late Thursday. “Beyond the legitimate political questions raised by the ‘Board of Peace,’ the Commission must scrupulously respect European law and the institutional balance in all circumstances.”
The leaders of the three parliamentary groups argued that the European Commission did not have a mandate to make such a decision. They said the Commission’s attendance gave visibility and legitimacy to Donald Trump’s Board of Peace while undermining the authority of the United Nations.
“We command the President of the European Commission to clearly disengage from Donald J. Trump’s Board of Peace, to refrain from sending any observer to its meetings, and to cease any form of participation,” the letter stated.
The European People’s Party—Ursula von der Leyen’s political family—did not sign the letter. An EPP spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.
Bulgaria and Hungary are the only EU members to have formally joined the peace board, with Italy and Romania attending as observers.
On Friday, the Commission defended Suica’s participation.
“At least half of the member states, representative of the member states, participated in this meeting,” Politico quoted Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier as saying.
“We are not becoming a member of the Board of Peace,” he added, emphasising that Šuica attended to contribute “in the wider discussion to ensure a safe future for Gaza and for the Palestinians.”
Chief spokesperson Paula Pinho said that “It is within the remit of the Commission as an external representative of the Union to accept invitations of this kind, as a matter of international courtesy,” when asked about the legal basis for attending.
The letter from the parliamentary groups follows criticism from France Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot wrote on X late Thursday.
“Beyond the legitimate political questions raised by the ‘Board of Peace,’ the Commission must scrupulously respect European law and the institutional balance in all circumstances.”
With inputs from agencies
End of Article
