European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other EU leaders met a delegation of Middle Eastern officials, including Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, during the second day of an informal summit in Cyprus to discuss the region’s security and diplomacy. At a working lunch with representatives from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, von der Leyen pressed for a comprehensive settlement with Iran that would curb its nuclear program, address wider security concerns, and immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz “without tolls.” She said any agreement should explicitly include Lebanon.
“A key lesson of the past weeks is that security is indivisible,” von der Leyen said, noting that stability in the Middle East and the Gulf cannot be achieved while Lebanon remains engulfed in conflict. She urged respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and called for a permanent path to peace rather than temporary pauses, promising continued EU support for the Lebanese people. Although she did not name Israel directly, her remarks implied that a lasting settlement must resolve the presence of troops in southern Lebanon and restore full Lebanese control over its territory.
Cyprus, which lies roughly 300 kilometres from Lebanon, has been affected by the fighting: an Iranian drone struck a British military base on the island soon after the war began in late February, underscoring the conflict’s regional reach.
EU leaders warned that any negotiations with Iran must avoid producing a weaker outcome than the 2015 JCPOA. Von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa stressed the risks posed by Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and argued a settlement should also tackle ballistic missiles. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas cautioned that talks focused only on high-level issues without nuclear experts could yield a less robust deal than the JCPOA, which required years and extensive specialist input to negotiate. She said negotiators must also confront Iran’s missile programs, support for proxy groups, and hybrid and cyber threats affecting Europe.
Leaders also pushed back on suggestions that passage through the Strait of Hormuz could be subject to fees as reparations for strikes. Costa welcomed an announced extension of a ceasefire and insisted the strait must “immediately reopen, without restrictions and without tolling,” highlighting its importance for the global economy. French President Emmanuel Macron urged faster restoration of stability so world markets and supply chains can normalize. Von der Leyen called for deeper partnerships between Europe and Gulf states, proposing moves beyond reactive crisis management — including expanded naval operations and cooperation on defenses against drones and missiles.
Domestically, leaders debated the EU’s next long-term budget for 2028–2034. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz opposed raising member-state contributions or taking on new debt, saying Europe must “make do with the money we have” and that new priorities will require cuts elsewhere. The European Commission has proposed a significantly larger budget — roughly €2 trillion — to help service pandemic-era debts and fund priorities such as competitiveness and defense, but financing is contentious amid fiscal constraints in many member states.
On Ukraine, EU leaders met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and approved a €90 billion loan package for Kyiv while adopting the 20th sanctions package against Russia over its war in Ukraine. Kaja Kallas said the bloc is already preparing a 21st package to signal to Moscow that the EU will not be outwaited and that support for Ukraine remains a priority.
Edited by: Sean Sinico, Dmytro Hubenko