On Thursday, March 19, the European Council released an official statement addressing the increasingly deteriorating situation in the Middle East. The leaders of the 27 EU countries strongly condemned Iran’s indiscriminate military strikes against Middle Eastern nations and officially called for all conflicting parties to temporarily halt attacks on energy and water facilities to maintain global economic stability and civilian safety.
In their conclusion, EU leaders clearly stated that Iran and its proxies’ actions have threatened regional and global security.
“The European Council strongly condemns Iran’s indiscriminate military strikes against countries in the region and expresses solidarity with the affected nations,” the statement emphasized, “The Council urges Iran and its proxies to immediately cease these attacks and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of regional countries.”
The European Council stated that coordinated action must be taken to assist partners in enhancing anti-drone and air defense capabilities.
“In this context, the European Council welcomes Ukraine’s willingness to provide air defense and anti-drone systems to Gulf countries,” the statement said.
Additionally, the EU reiterated that Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons and called for an end to the violent repression of its domestic population, urging respect for the human rights and basic freedoms of the Iranian people, including the right to choose their own future.
Regarding the situation in Lebanon, the EU strongly condemned Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel.
“The European Council strongly condemns Hezbollah’s decision to attack Israel in support of Iran and urges it to cease its actions immediately,” the statement said, “The European Council welcomes Lebanon’s decision to prohibit Hezbollah’s military activities. The EU supports Lebanese authorities in strengthening the Lebanese Armed Forces’ efforts to control the entirety of Lebanon.”
Moreover, regarding the attacks on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) personnel, the EU referred to them as “a serious violation of international law and completely unacceptable.”
Addressing the security of the Hormuz Strait and Red Sea, crucial for global oil transportation, EU leaders called for the strengthening of existing maritime security missions, including the “Aspides” naval mission in the Red Sea and the “Atalanta” anti-piracy naval mission in the Horn of Africa, by deploying more military assets to ensure freedom of navigation.
Prior to this, U.S. President Trump had urged European allies to participate in security missions in the Hormuz Strait. EU member states expressed their commitment to ensuring the safety of critical waterways through enhanced coordination with regional partners when conditions are favorable.
In anticipation of the potentially cascading effects of war, EU leaders instructed the Commission to monitor the impact of the conflict on energy prices, supply chains, and migration flows.
The statement underscored that the EU, drawing lessons from the 2015 migration crisis, will utilize all diplomatic, legal, and financial tools to monitor migration flows, maintain European security, and continue to strengthen control over the EU’s external borders.
Regarding the situation in Gaza, the EU reiterated its support for the full implementation of a ceasefire, demanding that Hamas and other non-state armed groups permanently disarm, and calling for the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Simultaneously, the EU urged Israel to open border crossings to allow for large-scale humanitarian aid to enter.
The EU stated its commitment to continuing cooperation with international and regional partners to promote de-escalation in the region and achieve lasting peace solutions.