European Union Leaders Converge on Defense and Middle East at Brussels Summit
European Union leaders concluded the first day of their summit in Brussels, reaching agreements on defense and the Middle East. In a joint statement on defense, the leaders emphasized the need for increased spending on European security and defense and called for further efforts to boost the production of the European defense industry, including small and medium-sized enterprises.
The EU summit also urged the European Commission and the High Representative to present further proposals to strengthen military mobility.
In the Middle East, the leaders agreed on a diplomatic initiative to encourage Israel to comply with its human rights obligations. The statement condemned the escalation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, due to the increasing violence of settlers, the expansion of illegal settlements and Israel’s military operations.
The leaders called for the work on further restrictive measures against extremist settlers and organizations that support them to be accelerated.
Regarding Gaza, the statement demanded an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and steps towards a permanent end to hostilities. The leaders also drew attention to the devastating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, the unacceptable number of civilian casualties and the scale of the hunger crisis.
Israel was called upon to lift its blockade of the Gaza Strip, ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the area in large quantities and without hindrance and allow the United Nations and its agencies, as well as humanitarian organizations, to work independently and impartially in the Gaza Strip.
The summit also adopted a resolution on Ukraine, reaffirming its support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the country, based on the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, following a discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The outcome of the summit, whether it would conclude on the day or continue into the next, remained uncertain, with EU Council President António Costa pushing for a one-day summit, but the discussion on the Middle East apparently took longer than planned. The outcome will be determined in the evening.