Summary of the day
Leaders from the EU’s 27 member states began a two-day meeting in Brussels to discuss economic competitiveness, Ukraine and the Middle East.
The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said that “for us, it is important that this moment is now also used for further de-escalation and that Israel ... does not respond with a massive attack of its own.”
The Belgian prime minister, Alexander De Croo, brought up concerns that there is a “serious allegation” that Russia has played an “active role in trying to influence our democracy.”
Roberta Metsola, the European parliament president, stressed the need for providing assistance to Kyiv more quickly.
Gitanas Nausėda, the Lithuanian president, said he is “concerned that we are losing the focus on Ukraine.”
The new Irish prime minister, Simon Harris, said he intends “to continue my engagement with European counterparts about the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the need for, of course, the release of hostages, but also the need, I believe, for a number of European states to now move ahead and recognise the state of Palestine.”
Petteri Orpo, the Finnish prime minister, said that when it comes to the Middle East it is “important” to ask Israel “not to attack because we have to de-escalate this very difficult situation.”
As the leaders went into the room on Wednesday evening, draft conclusions for the summit stated that “the European Council calls on Iran and its proxies to cease all attacks and urges all parties to exercise the utmost restraint and to refrain from any action that may increase tensions in the region.”
The draft conclusions also stated that the council “reiterates its commitment to work with partners to end the crisis in Gaza without delay and implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 2728, including through reaching an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages, as well as providing full, rapid, safe and unhindered access to humanitarian aid at scale for Palestinians in need.”
Israel Katz, the Israeli foreign minister, called on Germany and its partners to “designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization and impose sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missile program.”
Earlier in the day, the Nato secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, spoke with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy. “My message to Allies is clear: Send more to Ukraine,” he said.
David Cameron, the UK foreign secretary, urged G7 partners to step up support for Ukraine amid fears of a deteriorating situation in the country.
As leaders hold talks, the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has called for a change in Brussels.
Results of the current European leadership:
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) April 17, 2024
Green transition: failed ❌
Agricultural policy: failed ❌
Competitiveness: failed ❌
Migration policy: failed ❌
We need a change in #Brussels!@NatConTalk pic.twitter.com/JZoL1hdE2a
