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Summary of the day
Heads of state and government from the EU’s 27 countries met in Brussels and debated the situation in the Middle East and the bloc’s long-term budget.
After hours of discussion, the leaders agreed on a joint text calling for aid to reach those who need it in Gaza “through all necessary measures including humanitarian corridors and pauses for humanitarian needs.”
Leaders also said that the European Council “supports the holding of an international peace conference soon.”
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said that more flights with EU aid for Gaza will be on their way Friday.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that “Israel is a democratic state guided by very humanitarian principles and so we can be certain that the Israeli army will respect the rules that arise from international law in everything it does.”
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy told EU leaders via videoconference that “we must do everything to prevent an even larger international fire from breaking out in the Middle East” and “the enemies of freedom are very interested in bringing the free world to the second front.”
Roberta Metsola, president of the European parliament, stressed that Europe cannot allow its support for Ukraine to waiver and said that on the Middle East “we have a responsibility to remain coherent and united.”
Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán defended his decision to meet with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, saying that Budapest has a “peace strategy.”
Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas told reporters that “we have had different opinions before, we have managed to keep unity, but it’s getting more difficult regarding Hungary.”
The leaders of France, Germany and Italy met with their counterparts from Kosovo and Serbia, but appeared to fail to make progress on the thorny issue of the relationship between Pristina and Belgrade.
Leaders will meet later Friday again to discuss Ukraine, migration and the economy.
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