Have the article read by OpenAI (Beta). Please note that AI translations may take some time to process.EU deploys diplomacy to prevent regional spiral of Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Brussels (EFE) – In the wake of the attacks by the Islamist group Hamas against Israel, European Council President Charles Michel and the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell activated several contacts with Middle Eastern leaders this weekend, in an attempt to stop the violence and avoid a regional escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In their many talks in recent hours, Michel and Borrell have stressed the need for a reduction in tensions, an immediate cessation of hostilities, the immediate release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and respect for human and civil rights on both sides of the conflict.
To continue these efforts, Borrell attended a meeting in Muscat (Oman) on Monday with his counterparts from the Gulf Cooperation Council, the main forum that brings together the foreign ministers of the European Union and Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Michel said the EU “stands ready to support the relaunch of the political process through Borrell’s Peace Day initiative with all regional partners.” That initiative aims to encourage the parties to resume peace talks for a two-state solution. (8 October)
Lenarčič in Armenia on EU support for Nagorno-Karabakh displaced persons
Brussels/Yerevan (STA) – On Friday, European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič visited Armenia, where more than 100,000 people have been displaced by the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Faced with a massive influx of people from Karabakh, Lenarčič is coordinating EU assistance in the South Caucasus country, to which the EU has provided further humanitarian aid.
In Yerevan, the commissioner assessed the humanitarian crisis caused by the exodus of the Armenian population from Nagorno-Karabakh, where the Azerbaijani army regained control of the Armenian-majority province in a short operation two weeks ago. Further targeted assistance, in particular through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, was also discussed.
The commissioner’s visit coincided with the expected arrival in the Armenian capital of an EU emergency aircraft deployed under the European Humanitarian Response Capacity (EHRC), Brussels said. (6 October)
Poland and Hungary veto migration chapter in Granada
Granada/Brussels (ANSA) – An informal summit of European leaders in Granada unanimously endorsed the Granada Declaration in all its parts except for the one on migration. Following a veto by Poland and Hungary, this part was replaced by a separate statement from European Council President Charles Michel. In particular, Warsaw and Budapest are contesting the compulsory solidarity mechanism foreseen in the crisis management regulation, the key text of the EU migration pact that is in the process of being adopted.
Although only a qualified majority is required, the two Central and Eastern European countries argue that the agreement requires the consent of all member states, based on a principle established by European leaders in the past. Poland and Hungary had been “legally raped” over migrants, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said provocatively. “As a responsible politician, I officially reject the whole paragraph of the summit’s conclusions on migration. Poland is and will remain safe under PiS rule,” Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki wrote on X a week before elections are to take place in Poland.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she “understands” the positions of Poland and Hungary, which in any case do not jeopardise the migration pact. A pact in which Meloni, like her European allies, sees no breakthrough. “We voted for the pact because the new rules are better than the previous ones. But I did not make this a priority,” the prime minister insisted, stressing the need for a “structural solution”, i.e., stopping the migration flows. (6 October).
Baerbock: Time for the EU to keep its promises to the Western Balkans
Tirana (ATA) – German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in Tirana that the time had come for the European Union to deliver on its long-standing promises, adding that the pace of integration into the European Union should be accelerated.
Speaking at the press conference after a ministerial meeting, Baerbock stressed that it was particularly clear that the future of the region’s youth lay in Europe.
“If Europe doesn’t come to them, they will find a way to Europe,” Baerbock said. “That is why we all need to accelerate the pace of EU integration. The visit to Kiev made it clear to us that Russia’s attack on Ukraine makes the EU membership of the Western Balkans necessary in the geopolitical dimension,” she added.
“We want to walk side by side with you on the road to the EU. This requires new and necessary reforms in the region, but also that we try together within the EU. It is time for the EU to deliver on the promises we made long ago,” Baerbock concluded. (6 October)
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