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Fico: At the EU summit, leaders took a more coherent stance on the Middle East crisis

by AI | 18.Oct 2024 | Europe in brief AI

Fico expressed regret that the issue of Ukraine does not mention a ceasefire and truce, as EU heads of government and state demanded at the summit with reference to the crisis in the Middle East.

Slovak Prime Minister Fico claims that there are still diametrically different views among EU member states regarding the relationship with Palestine and the relationship with Israel. PHOTO: TASR Pavel Neubauer

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On the topic of migration, Prime Minister Fico warned that with the upcoming winter, the pressure from migrants could be greater

BRUSSELS – During the Thursday summit (October 17) in Brussels, EU leaders managed to adopt a more cohesive approach to the crisis in the Middle East and also intensively focused on migration issues. This was stated on Friday by the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico (Smer-SD), according to TASR reporters.

The Prime Minister recalled that besides Ukraine, the leaders of member states also focused on events in the Middle East, dedicating the largest part of their working discussions to the issues of illegal migration, although legal migration is increasingly being discussed in the EU.

Fico expressed regret that on the topic of Ukraine, there is no talk of a ceasefire and truce, just as the heads of government and states of the EU demanded at the summit, referring to the crisis in the Middle East. However, he appreciated that the European Council finally adopted some more cohesive stance and is demanding a halt to hostilities, an end to suffering, and noted that what is happening in the Gaza Strip is unacceptable from a humanitarian law perspective.

He noted that during the summit, optimistic statements were made that Wednesday’s killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar could lead to a cessation of hostilities, negotiations, and possibly the release of hostages. Fico questioned such expectations, stating that he does not believe such violence could lead to results in the form of ending disputes.

“There are also voices that say, on the contrary, that there could be further escalation of tensions. We see today what is happening in Lebanon and in the surrounding countries,” said the Prime Minister.

According to him, there are still vastly different opinions among the EU member states regarding the relationship with Palestine and with Israel, which limits the European Council when making any serious and fundamental conclusions.

On the topic of migration, Fico warned that with the upcoming winter, the pressure from migrants could be greater. “If we do not protect the external borders of the EU, it will be too late,” said the Prime Minister, and in this context, he welcomed the Italian initiative to relocate asylum seekers outside the EU territory, which he perceives as one of the possible ways to address migration pressure.

He also supported the efforts of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who at the summit called for certain exceptions to EU asylum rules, which is not easy given the current union legislation, thus he supported the jointly agreed wording in the conclusions on migration, stating that “an exceptional situation requires exceptional solutions.” (October 18)

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