Informal video conference of foreign affairs ministers, 16 April 2024 Main results

 

Informal video conference of foreign affairs ministers, 16 April 2024

Main results

EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs held an informal video teleconference to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East in light of the recent attack with drones and missiles against Israel from Iran.

I want to use the same words that the Secretary

General of the United Nations used: ‘The region is at

the edge of an abyss, and we have to move away from it’.

 

[…]
Today ministers took a strong stance asking all actors in

the region to move away from the abyss, in order not to fall 

into it.

 Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

After the videoconference, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell stressed that the informal ministerial discussion showed the EU’s unity in its strong condemnation of the Iranian attack, its commitment to Israel’s security, its willingness to avoid further escalation, and in the call on all sides to show restraint.

The High Representative confirmed that work in the coming weeks will focus on increasing the EU’s outreach with all key partners in the region and beyond, and on restrictive measures. This may entail expanding the scope of the existing regime targeting Iran's military support of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine through drones, to include the possibility to sanction Iranian missiles as well as drone deliveries to Iranian proxies in the Middle East.

The High Representative strongly stressed the need not to forget Gaza, and recalled that there is no possibility to build enduring peace in the region if the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not resolved. For this reason the EU must continue to work towards an immediate and sustainable ceasefire, the release of hostages by Hamas, and addressing the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.