French President Emmanuel Macron spoke hopefully about influencing the crisis and the war situation around Iran on the way to Friday's continued EU summit in Cyprus.
Europe must do even more. It is in everyone's interest that stability returns as quickly as possible, Macron said in Nicosia.
However, the summit primarily brings together countries affected by the conflict - not those directly involved such as Iran, Israel or the US. And the countries on the Arabian Peninsula are only represented by the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Concerns about Iran
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas still sees value in bringing together the EU and countries such as Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. Not least, it is about highlighting that more than just Iranian nuclear weapons are being addressed in the talks between the US and Iran.
Missile programs, support for proxies in the region, cyber and hybrid attacks in Europe are not addressed. We risk ending up with an even more dangerous Iran. We must be clear, together with regional actors, that these issues must be addressed and that we can help in the negotiations, Kallas said in Nicosia.
Both she and EU Council President António Costa have traveled extensively in the area recently.
Spanish discontent
The EU is an economically important player in the region with significant humanitarian support to, for example, the Palestinians.
Politically, however, the influence is limited, not least due to the fact that different EU countries have different opinions when it comes to Israel.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been the most critical of both Israel and the US. He is deeply unhappy that it is not possible to agree to suspend the EU's association agreement with Israel.
There is no consensus on this issue and the result is that the EU's position is weakened, Sánchez said in Nicosia.
Facts: Middle Eastern leaders at EU meeting
The heads of state and government of the EU countries are having a working lunch with representatives from the Middle East during their summit in Cyprus.
The following leaders are involved:
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa
Lebanese President Michel Aoun
Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Mohamed al-Budaiwi
Source: European Council
