In Cyprus, EU Mediterranean countries address Middle East crisis

The leaders of the “Med9”, which brings together the Mediterranean countries of the European Union, are meeting on Friday in Cyprus to discuss, in the presence of King Abdullah II of Jordan, the crisis in the Middle East, in the face of which diplomacy appears powerless for the moment.

This summit in Paphos, in the west of the island, “is a format that is particularly suitable”, “a stone's throw from Lebanon”, to discuss the quest for a “de-escalation” between countries “particularly sensitive to the instability created by regional crises”, noted the French presidency.

The representatives of the nine countries (France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Slovenia and Croatia), accompanied by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, will have lunch with the Jordanian sovereign.

On the agenda, Gaza and Lebanon. Jordan is a “reliable partner” with “which we also have convergent views on the ways to restore stability in the Middle East”, according to the Elysée.

But the situation is complex. Despite calls for a ceasefire on both fronts, “what we are seeing is an increase in tensions, an increase in Israeli military operations in Lebanon, such as rocket fire towards Israeli territory, which we condemn”.

And “our levers are limited” to silence the weapons, they acknowledge in Paris.

Palestinians flee from Khan Younis to Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, December 4, 2023 © AFP – MAHMUD HAMS

The participants will therefore try to “build more European convergences”, and will discuss a “strengthening of humanitarian aid to Gaza”, with Jordan, already involved in operations in this direction with the France.

The host island is also “one of the potential hubs” in the event of a possible evacuation of nationals of European countries to Lebanon, “exchanges” on this issue will be possible, according to the French delegation.

“It will also be an opportunity to discuss how the EU can mobilize more on the West Bank”, a Palestinian territory occupied by Israel, “and the need to strengthen the Palestinian Authority”, notes the French presidency. The EU is discussing new sanctions against Israeli officials in this area.

– Migration issue on the agenda –

In the afternoon, the leaders will meet among Euro-Mediterraneans to prepare the next summit of the entire EU, scheduled for October 17 and 18 in Brussels. Particularly on migration issues, which are sensitive for these frontline states.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called on Wednesday for the European migration pact to come into force in the summer of 2025, a year early, at a time when the Canary Islands are under pressure.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau on September 28, 2024 in Mâcon © AFP – Alex MARTIN

In Paris, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who has made the fight against immigration his hobbyhorse, also called on Thursday in Le Parisien to “anticipate the application of the asylum-immigration package by six months from January 2026”.

According to Italian sources, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, at the head of a coalition between the right and the far right, intends to emphasize the “shared strategic interest” of the Med9 “in promoting greater EU engagement in relations with the southern neighborhood”.

During next week's summit in Brussels, the heads of state and government must notably address the strengthening of controls at the EU's external borders and the acceleration of returns.

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