European Commission President Emphasizes Security and Sovereignty in Middle East Talks
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the importance of security being “indivisible” during discussions with Middle Eastern leaders at a summit in Cyprus. She emphasized that any agreement involving Iran must include Lebanon and respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
During the second day of the summit, von der Leyen and other EU leaders met with a delegation of Middle Eastern leaders, including Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. The talks focused on the situation in the Middle East, with representatives from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria participating in a working lunch.
Von der Leyen called for peace in Iran, a deal to contain Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, and the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without tolls. She stressed that a peace deal should involve Lebanon, noting that stability in the Middle East and the Gulf cannot be achieved if Lebanon is in turmoil.
While not directly addressing Israel’s military presence in southern Lebanon, von der Leyen implied that an Israeli withdrawal should be part of any peace deal. She urged for the respect of Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, stating that a temporary pause was insufficient and that a permanent path to peace was needed.
Cyprus, which is 300 kilometers from the Lebanese coast, has been affected by the conflict. An Iranian drone struck a British military base there shortly after the war began in late February.
The EU has warned of the dangers posed by a potential weaker nuclear deal with Iran compared to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa both emphasized the need to address Iran’s ballistic missile program in any peace agreement.
Earlier in the week, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed concerns that negotiations to end the US-Israeli war with Iran could result in a weaker nuclear agreement than the one established in 2015. She called for the inclusion of nuclear experts in the discussions.
Kallas warned that without addressing Iran’s missile programs, support for proxies, and hybrid and cyber activities in Europe, there could be a more dangerous Iran. The JCPOA, negotiated over two years and involving around 200 specialists, was abandoned by the Trump administration in 2018. This week, Trump pledged to create a “far better” nuclear deal.
The EU has also rejected the idea of tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing the interconnectedness of European and Middle Eastern security. Costa welcomed the extension of the ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump and called for the strait to be reopened immediately without restrictions or tolls, in line with international law and freedom of navigation.
Iran has proposed charging for passage through the strait, framing it as a way to recover damages caused by US and Israeli bombardment. Von der Leyen reiterated the need for the waterway to be open freely.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Europe must do more to restore stability and return global economies to normal. Costa called for a ceasefire in Iran and the wider region, highlighting the disastrous consequences of the conflict on people, infrastructure, and the global economy.
He noted that the current situation underscores how closely European security is linked to that of the Middle East and the importance of cooperation on security and defense.
Von der Leyen also mentioned that EU and Gulf countries have realized the need to deepen their partnerships. She emphasized that security is intrinsically linked, with a threat to a merchant vessel in the Strait of Hormuz posing a threat to a factory in Belgium.
She suggested expanding naval operations and considering cooperation on defensive efforts against threats like drones and missiles.
EU Budget and Ukraine Support
On Friday morning, the leaders discussed the next EU budget for the 2028-2034 period. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz opposed increasing member state contributions and taking on new debt, stating that Europe must make do with existing funds and set new priorities.
The EU executive aims for a larger budget of around €2 trillion to repay pandemic-related debts. A key challenge will be financing goals such as boosting the EU’s competitiveness and defense capabilities while many member states face financial constraints.
On Thursday, the leaders met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and approved a €90 billion loan for Kyiv. They also adopted the 20th sanctions package against Russia over Moscow’s war on Ukraine.
Kallas mentioned that the bloc is already preparing for the next round of sanctions, aiming to send a clear message to Russia that they cannot outwait the EU. She emphasized that Ukraine is more important to the EU than to Russia and that support for Ukraine would continue.
