Condemning the Iranian attacks on Israel, European leaders announced, on Wednesday 17 April, that the EU will be adopting new sanctions against Iran. The day before, the High Representative of the Union had explained that the European External Action Service will be working on the subject (see EUROPE 13392/5).
“The European Union will take further restrictive measures against Iran, notably in relation to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles”, warned the European Council in its conclusions.
In front of the media, the President, Charles Michel, also said that “Iran needed to be isolated”.
On their arrival, several prime ministers, including Belgium’s Alexander De Croo and Mark Rutte of the Netherlands, called for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to be placed on the EU’s terrorist list.
The European Council also urged all parties “to exercise the utmost restraint and to refrain from any action that may increase tensions in the region”, underlining its full commitment to contributing to de-escalation and security in the region.
For Mr De Croo, “the last thing we need right now is an escalation of violence”.
“All efforts are now being made to contain the conflict in order to avoid a generalised conflagration and total escalation”, stressed the Austrian Chancellor, Karl Nehammer.
According to the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, in order to avoid escalation, a ceasefire that also allows humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip is necessary.
In its conclusions, the European Council also reiterated its commitment to working with its partners to bring an immediate end to the crisis in Gaza and implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 2728.
The EU leaders also came back on the situation in Lebanon, reiterating the EU's commitment to the country's stability, “including through supporting much-needed reforms and to strengthening its support for the Lebanese Armed Forces”. The President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, announced that he will travel to Lebanon on 2 May with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
To see the conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/btv (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant with the editorial staff)