European leaders have issued a formal call for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, alongside a request for a moratorium on attacks targeting water and energy infrastructure in the Middle East. This statement was made during a meeting in Brussels, where leaders convened to address rising energy prices resulting from the ongoing conflict.
In a joint declaration on Thursday, all heads of the 27 member states of the European Union—collectively known as the European Council—stressed the importance of stabilising energy shipments and urged for “de-escalation and maximum restraint” from all parties involved in the situation.
“The European Council deplores the loss of civilian life and is closely monitoring the far-reaching impact of the hostilities, including on economic stability,” the statement read. The leaders also asked Iran to stop striking neighbours across the Persian Gulf, sought international cooperation to prevent any large-scale refugee crises in the Middle East, and said some EU countries are exploring ways “to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”
European leaders have declined US President Donald Trump’s requests to send military resources to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for the international transport of oil, gas, and fertilisers. Nevertheless, the rise in energy prices due to the ongoing conflict, along with concerns about a potential refugee crisis in Europe, has prompted leaders to elevate the Middle East as a priority agenda item at the summit.
“We are very worried about the energy crisis,” said Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever ahead of the summit. He said that the conflict “created another spike” in the already too-high energy prices before the war.
Leaders also discussed alternative funding for Ukraine after they failed to convince Hungary to stop opposing a massive loan for the cash-strapped and war-torn country.
European leaders lack the desire to engage in the conflict
European leaders have expressed significant criticism toward the Iranian government; however, none have offered immediate support to the United States.
The United Kingdom has clearly stated its decision to refrain from involvement in the conflict. France has indicated that it would first require a de-escalation of hostilities before considering any involvement. Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker emphasised that Europe “will not allow itself to be blackmailed” into joining the military operations of the US and Israel in the Middle East.
“Europe — and Austria as well — will not allow itself to be blackmailed,“ he said ahead of the European Council summit. “Intervention in the Strait of Hormuz is not an option for Austria anyway,” he highlighted.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas remarked that there appears to be limited interest among national leaders in expanding a European naval presence in the Red Sea to enhance security in the Strait of Hormuz or to increase involvement in the ongoing situation.
On Thursday, four of the EU’s largest economies—France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands—expressed their readiness to contribute to “appropriate efforts” to ensure the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
In a joint statement with the United Kingdom and Japan, these nations welcomed the commitment of countries engaged in preparatory planning to protect this vital oil route. Furthermore, they called on Iran to “cease immediately” its drone and missile attacks and any actions that obstruct navigation in the strait.
Looking ahead to the war’s end
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has emphasised that resolving the ongoing conflict is essential before Germany can assist with matters such as ensuring the safety of shipping lanes. He noted that this would necessitate an international mandate and involve a series of complex steps, stating, “before we can even consider such an issue.”
“We can and will commit ourselves only when the weapons fall silent,“ he said of potential German military support to secure shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz. “We can then do a great deal, up to opening sea lanes and keeping them clear, but we’re not doing it during ongoing combat operations.”
Although the European Union is not directly involved in the conflict, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten expressed his understanding of the United States and Israel’s rationale for their military campaign against the “brutal“ Iranian government. He called for the European Union to enhance both its sanctions on Iran and its support for Iranian opposition groups.
Some leaders say the war is “illegal“ and destabilising
“We are against this war because it is illegal,“ Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said: “It’s causing a lot of damage to civilians, of course, refugees and the economic consequences that the whole world, especially the global south, is already suffering.”
Evika Silina, Prime Minister of Latvia, noted that Trump had not officially requested NATO support for clearing the Strait of Hormuz.
“When there will be some official requests, I think we always have to evaluate those requests,“ she said.
No single policy for the EU’s diverse energy markets
The European Commission has informed leaders about various financial tools available for member nations to reduce energy prices, which will be discussed. No single policy is expected to address the economic shocks from the war, which are affecting diverse markets across the bloc.
EU leaders are hopeful that their experience in reducing reliance on Russian energy after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, along with increased military spending, will pave the way for energy independence.
While some capitals have called for suspending climate policies to offset the recent rise in energy prices, others advocate for a long-term strategy focused on sustainable energy independent of fossil fuels.
Leaders from several countries, including Italy, Austria, and Poland, have urged Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to slow the rollout of the EU’s Emissions Trading System, stating that its current pace is “too steep and overly ambitious” given today’s economic fragility.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
