Europe and Multilateralism By Manuel Manonelles Copyright © 2026 IPS-Inter Press Service.

Europe and Multilateralism By Manuel Manonelles https://www.ipsnews.net/2026/03/europe-and-multilateralism/ BARCELONA, Spain, Mar 20 2026 (IPS) - “Europe can no longer be a custodian for the old-world order, for a world that has gone and will not return (…) we need a more realistic and interest-driven foreign policy.” These were some of the words pronounced one week ago by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at the EU Ambassadors’ Conference in Brussels. A speech that sparked considerable controversy: an almost immediate rebuttal from the President of the Council, Antonio Costa; rumours of a motion of censure against Von der Leyen in the European Parliament; more or less public reproaches from several European leaders; and a swift and complete retraction by the President herself. Copyright © 2026 IPS-Inter Press Service.