The informal European Council and a summit with regional leaders concluded in Nicosia on Friday, with EU leaders calling for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and expressing solidarity with Lebanon.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa and President Nikos Christodoulides spoke at a joint press conference alongside the President of Lebanon Joseph Aoun and the de facto leader of Syria Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Christodoulides
Christodoulides said the EU was present in the region and expressed solidarity with regional partners. He said Cyprus supported closer relations between Europe and the Gulf states, and expressed hope that Friday’s meeting would mark the beginning of a more concrete dialogue with a clear shared goal — a stronger EU moving forward hand in hand with a stronger region. Cyprus, he said, would continue to act as a bridge, mediating for stability and security.
Costa
European Council President António Costa thanked Christodoulides for hosting the summit and welcomed the recent announcement of a ceasefire extension with Iran as a very positive step. He called for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen immediately and without restriction, saying diplomacy was the only sustainable path and that the EU would contribute to every effort in that direction.
On Lebanon, Costa said the situation remained a matter of very serious concern. He expressed hope for an extended ceasefire and dialogue, and described Hezbollah as an existential threat to Lebanon. He addressed Lebanese President Aoun directly, saying his decision to ban Hezbollah’s military activities was a historic one, and welcoming the start of discussions with Israel as encouraging.
Costa described Egypt and Jordan as strategic partners whose stability and security were a priority. He said he was pleased to have met Syrian leader al-Sharaa, and that the EU supported efforts for a peaceful Syria without restrictions.
Von der Leyen
Von der Leyen said it had been a very good meeting and that the goal was agreement on keeping the Strait of Hormuz open without tolls or conditions. She said her message to partners had been twofold: solidarity with regional partners, and a demand that Lebanon’s sovereignty be respected. She said a temporary ceasefire was not enough, and noted that six EU humanitarian aid flights carrying 50 tonnes of supplies had already reached the region.
She praised the leadership of Egypt and Jordan and thanked Gulf states for their support in helping citizens return to their countries. “The developments have taught us that the security of all of us is interconnected,” she said.
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