Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

European Union institutions in Brussels announced that a meeting of heads of state and government will be held in Cyprus on April 23 and 24. Discussions on the first day will focus on European issues, including the situation in Ukraine, the Multiannual Financial Framework, and security and defense. On the second day, the leaders will meet with key regional partners to discuss the situation in the Middle East. Particularly the issue of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and its repercussions on European and Arab economies.

European Council President António Costa invited the heads of state and government of the EU member states to the informal summit, stating in his letter: “Our informal meeting of the European Council will focus on two main points: we will address the complex geopolitical environment and Europe’s response to it, and we will also provide policy guidance for working on the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028-2034, with the aim of reaching an agreement by the end of this year.

We will begin our discussions at dinner on April 23 by hearing from President Zelenskyy about Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.

We will then address the conflict in Iran and the Middle East, which pose serious challenges for the European Union. First, we must discuss our response to this rapidly evolving situation. This includes Europe’s contribution to de-escalation and peace in the region, as well as freedom of navigation. Moreover, the effects of rising fossil fuel prices are already evident in the daily lives of our citizens and businesses. Given the potential negative economic consequences of the conflict…” At length, we will discuss the tools available to us, building on the decisions taken at the European Council meeting in March and the measures proposed by the Commission in their aftermath. Finally, the EU's readiness to respond to the changing geopolitical and security environment will be part of this discussion. This may include aspects related to Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union, in light of ongoing work.

In our morning session on Friday, April 24, we will address the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), a discussion we had planned for March but had to postpone. Its importance has only grown since then. We need an open discussion on how to align our ambitions with the appropriate level of funding, including the importance of new domestic resources. At the same time, I would like us to discuss the contribution of the new EU Long-Term Budget to our competitiveness agenda, as it will be the main instrument available to us for joint strategic action. We will return to the MFF regularly throughout 2026 to create the conditions necessary for reaching an agreement in a timely manner.

Following the meeting of Heads of State and Government, we will continue our discussions on current events in The Middle East will be the focus of an informal working lunch with regional leaders. This will provide an opportunity to exchange views on shared challenges, as well as emerging opportunities for cooperation.

Our meeting in Cyprus comes at a crucial moment for the EU agenda: it will allow us to review the implementation of the European Council decisions of March, particularly in the energy sector; it will provide an opportunity for coordination and further policy guidance in light of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and its impact on European economies; and it will be an important milestone towards reaching an agreement on the next Multiannual Financial Framework.