The 27 EU leaders are set to discuss foreign policy at the start of their two-day summit in Brussels. Tensions in the Middle East and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine will be on the agenda.
The EU summit, originally scheduled to be devoted to a thorough strategic review of the EU’s economic competitiveness, has been overshadowed by events in the Middle East. As a result, foreign policy discussions will kick off a two-day EU summit in Brussels.
With Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel raising regional tensions and fears of a wider war, EU leaders will urge “all parties to exercise utmost restraint and refrain from any action that may increase tensions in the region,” according to a draft of their summit conclusions.
Earlier, EU top diplomat Josep Borrell said the bloc would also consider further sanctions against Iran.
Leaders should also reiterate their call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and the release of hostages, “as well as increasing humanitarian aid at scale to Palestinians in need.”
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is also on the agenda, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expected to address the meeting via video link. He has previously asked allies for more Patriot missile systems.
The European leaders’ discussions on Thursday will focus on the bloc’s competitiveness in the face of growing competition from the United States and China.
Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta is to present a report on the future of the EU’s single market, the bloc’s economic regulatory system that allows goods, money, services and people to move freely across the 27 EU member states.
Source: Dw
