Seán Crowe accuses EU of 'cowardice' over Gaza on Europe Day
Seán Crowe used a Europe Day speech to criticise the European Union's foreign policy, arguing the bloc has been passive over Israel, Gaza and wider conflicts. He called for the EU to use its diplomatic and economic levers to prevent conflict, protect principles and prioritise the interests of ordinary people.
Summary of the address
Seán Crowe framed Europe Day as a moment to reaffirm peace and unity but said the EU is failing those ideals when it tolerates trade and diplomatic relationships with states committing abuses. He rejected the label of EU sceptic for Sinn Féin, describing the party's approach as critical engagement: supporting measures that benefit Ireland and Europe, opposing those that do not.
Main criticisms of EU foreign policy
Crowe criticised the European Council and large member states for allowing economic and political arrangements that shield actors accused of serious abuses. He argued the Union has been passive on Gaza, Palestine and other conflicts, and questioned why member states do not collectively refuse to do business with those engaged in ethnic cleansing.
Policy demands and proposals
He urged the EU to act with solidarity and boldness: use trade and diplomatic pressure to prevent wars, invest in developing economies, divest from fossil fuels and rebuild peace in the Middle East. Crowe said a more inclusive, accountable Europe could be a force for preventing conflict and improving living standards.
Wider implications
Crowe warned that continued passivity harms European workers and economies through the fallout of distant wars and unstable energy markets. He called on member states to stop being bystanders and to use the Union's leverage to pursue stability, justice and prosperity for all peoples in Europe and beyond.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Go raibh maith agat. Europe Day is meant to be a celebration of peace and unity. A continent that will emerge from war and resolve to work together to ensure future harmony and prosperity. My party, Sinn Féin, is often accused of being EU sceptics and is often thrown in this house. It probably might happen in this debate, but this is simply not the case. Sinn Féin's policies towards the European Union have always been focused on critical engagement. Where measures are in the interest of the Irish people and the peoples of Europe, we support them and we seek to further them. But when they are not in the interest of Ireland, we have opposed them and campaigned to change them. But always from within and always in a constructive manner that would create an inclusive Europe which reflects the needs and aspirations of all its people, not just the few or the elites. We are not anti-EU or do we want to see Ireland outside of the EU. We simply see a different path forward in Europe and Ireland's best interests, as do Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and others. Yes, we are critical of many stances that the EU takes. Most often this is not on foreign relations and especially where Palestine is concerned. I, along with many others, believe that the stance of the EU when it comes to foreign relations is totally out of step with the majority of its citizens. We do not support a European Union which a small number of large member states take it on themselves to dictate economic security or foreign policy to smaller states. As a bloc, the Union provides political cover and trade deals to those who commit genocide and turns a blind eye to wars of aggression that have had catastrophic impact on our economies and on the standards of living of workers and their families. So why are we so afraid to say no to Israel and the US? Why can we not come together as a 27-member state and say what is wrong and what is unacceptable? That we refuse to do business with those who are ethnically cleansing Gaza and the West Bank. Idris Cowardice or even worse, we have decided that doing business with the oppressor is worth more to us than our principles. Europe Day should not be simply about the end of a world war, but a rallying cry for how we work towards a world without wars. We have huge levers diplomatically and economically, but we can use them to real effect for change, real change. Not just in ending conflicts, but in preventing conflicts from ever occurring through dialogue and sustainable investment, to build up economies in the developing world and divest from fossil fuels. The EU has been incredibly passive when it comes to threats and bad actors. We are expected simply to weather the impact of high fuel prices caused by the Russian war in Ukraine and the war on aggression against Iran. The European Council's recent meeting was more concerned about a fresh flow of migrants than stopping the war against Iran and rebuilding what little peace the Middle East has seen in recent decades. We saw how one powerful state can torpedo any attempts to hold Israel to account by revoking the sweetheart trade deal that it has with Europe. The EU could be a powerful force for preventing interstate violence and war. It could be a beacon of hope and solidarity amongst nations. But right now it is an inept bystander that is led by the nose by external actors who have no regard for Europeans or their lives. Surely the time has come to stop being so passive and work together in solidarity to try to bring peace, stability and economic prosperity to the peoples of the world. you
Thank you for downloading 🙏
If you publish this material on social media, we would be very grateful if you tagged VideoParliament. It helps us reach more people and keep building a transparent archive of Irish politics.
