Differences emerged in the European Parliament on Tuesday 10 March over the response to the Iran crisis. The EPP Group believes that the end of the Teheran regime would be “a relief” for the region and for Europe, while the S&D Group warns against military action that is contrary to international law.
At a press conference on Tuesday 10 March, the Chair of the EPP Group in Parliament, Germany’s Manfred Weber, said that “the best thing for the Iranians, for the people of the region and for Europeans would be the end of the Iranian regime”.
According to him, “tens of thousands of young Iranians took to the streets for an Iran founded on freedom and were killed and massacred by their own regime”. The German also condemned “the Iranian attacks against the Gulf States and Israel”, pointing out that “civilians have been killed”.
Without explicitly saying whether he supported military intervention, Mr Weber felt that the American strikes against Iranian capabilities had a positive effect on European security. “If Iran doesn’t get nuclear weapons, that’s good news for Europeans”, he said. He also felt that Europe’s diplomatic strategy towards Iran had failed, pointing out that the nuclear agreement concluded 10 years ago “has not worked”. “We have to ask ourselves what we have done to support the Iranian opposition, particularly women and the younger generation”, he added.
Call to strengthen European defence. According to Mr Weber, the crisis in the Middle East should also lead to a strengthening of European defence. He called for a European missile defence system, enhanced defence coordination and a Europe capable of speaking with one voice on foreign policy.
Nicola Procaccini, Co-Chair of the ECR Group, said that the EU must remain attentive to Iranians’ aspirations for freedom and dignity. The American or Israeli attack is not the cause of the “death” of international law, but part of a global crisis that has persisted for years, according to the Italian. He stressed the importance of combining diplomacy and deterrence.
Bernard Guetta (Renew Europe, French) criticised commentators for underestimating current developments in Europe, citing in particular French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to Europeanise the nuclear deterrent. “This is an absolutely gigantic step for European defence”, he said. In his view, this initiative could structure a European defence around the French deterrent. France’s Manon Aubry, Co-Chair of The Left Group, spoke of the danger of “military and nuclear escalation”.
International law. The position of the EPP and ECR Groups contrasts with that expressed by Iratxe García Pérez (S&D, Spanish). While condemning “the dictatorship of the ayatollahs” and human rights violations in Iran, the Chair of the S&D Group in Parliament insisted on strict compliance with international law.
“The use of force is legal only in self-defence or with a mandate from the UN Security Council”, she said, calling the current attack on Iran “a unilateral action that sets a dangerous precedent”. She warned against a weakening of multilateralism and a “selective” application of international law. “If international law is applied selectively, it is no longer law or justice”, she said.
Raphaël Glucksmann (S&D, French) felt that Europe could no longer depend on the United States; it must “build a truly autonomous power” (military, energy, political).
Valérie Hayer (Renew Europe, French) warned against a “dangerous escalation”, which she considered a serious violation of international law. Bringing down leaders does not guarantee democracy, and intervention by the United States and Israel “is not a sustainable security strategy”, in her view.
Terry Reintke, Co-Chair of the Greens/EFA Group, said that attacks on international law “threaten international order” and denounced leaders, including Trump and Putin, who favour force over multilateralism.
Manon Aubry condemned a new war of aggression “in violation of international law”. In her view, the aim of the United States is to control the Strait of Hormuz. She called on the EU and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to condemn these attacks and the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
A plenary debate on this subject will take place on Wednesday 11 March in Strasbourg, and the issue should be at the heart of discussions at the next European Council on 19 and 20 March (see EUROPE 13824/1). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur, with the editorial staff)