“Whatever it takes, as long as it takes,” declared Roberta Metsola in the European Parliament during a debate with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The President’s impassioned plea for continued support for Ukraine during the ongoing conflict with Russia was met with the bold promise from Metsola, the European Parliament President. “We will do everything possible,” she proclaimed, until Ukraine wins.

That’s quite the commitment.

Labour Party deputy leader Alex Agius Saliba, who heads the Maltese delegation to the European Parliament, was quick to express concern about Malta’s stance of neutrality in international conflicts, which has long been a cornerstone of its foreign policy. He cautioned that Malta should not allow external political ambitions to undermine its neutrality or jeopardise the political and social stability of the Maltese islands. Saliba also questioned why Metsola, while championing Ukraine, had not shown similar vigour in addressing what he referred to as the genocide faced by the Palestinian people.

Indeed, Metsola’s rhetoric around Ukraine, while resolute, stands in contrast to her lack of criticism regarding the ongoing situation in Gaza. In October, during a visit to Israel following a Hamas attack, Metsola refrained from condemning Israel’s military response, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinian civilians. A silence that caused outrage both within the European Parliament and internationally, together with accusations of hypocrisy and double standards in her approach to global conflicts.

Furthermore, Metsola’s leadership in the European Parliament has been questioned in light of her perceived silence on several crucial humanitarian issues. For instance, Nationalist Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have, time and again, failed to address the plight of Palestinian civilians in debates concerning the ongoing Gaza crisis. Last week, Nationalist MEPs voted against a proposal to hold a plenary debate on Israel’s decision to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from providing essential services to Palestinian refugees. This decision has compounded the suffering of thousands already displaced and vulnerable.

In contrast to Metsola’s resolute stance on Ukraine, Agius Saliba has argued that while it is crucial to provide aid to those in need, the principles of peace and neutrality should remain the guiding lights of European policy. He questioned whether these principles are still truly at the heart of the European Parliament’s decision-making, particularly when it comes to matters of humanitarian aid and international conflict.

For many, Metsola’s handling of global crises raises important questions about the consistency of European leadership in the face of widespread human suffering. Her “whatever it takes” approach to Ukraine contrasts drastically with her muted responses to the crisis in Gaza, leaving many wondering whether the European Parliament can balance its commitment to peace with the moral imperatives of neutrality and humanitarianism.

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