I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. 

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia^*, Montenegro^*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina^* and the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Andorra, and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

The European Union remains strongly committed to peace, security, and stability in the Middle East region. 

We welcome the recent cessation of hostilities between Israel and Iran. We strongly urge all parties involved to abide by international law, to exercise maximum restraint, and to refrain from actions that could reignite conflict and escalate into broader regional destabilization.

The European Union has always been clear that Iran must never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon and we urge Iran to comply with the legally binding nuclear safeguard obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. In this context, we express our full support to the IAEA and DG Grossi in their essential task of monitoring Iran's nuclear programme and call on Iran to resume cooperation with the Agency to this end.

The European Union will continue to contribute to all diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions and reaching a lasting solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, which can only be achieved through negotiations. 

The EU calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the unconditional release of all hostages, leading to a permanent end to hostilities. The EU continues to fully support the mediators – US, Egypt and Qatar. It deplores the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, the unacceptable number of civilian casualties and the levels of starvation. The EU calls on Israel to fully lift its blockade on Gaza, to allow immediate, unimpeded access and sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale into and throughout Gaza and to enable the UN and its agencies, and humanitarian organisations, to work independently and impartially to save lives and reduce suffering. Israel must fully comply with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law. The EU recalls the imperative of ensuring the protection of all civilians, including humanitarian workers, at all times, as well as of civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, schools and UN premises. It deplores the refusal of Hamas to hand over the remaining hostages. The EU stresses the essential role of the UN and its agencies, notably UNRWA, which provides crucial support to the civilian population, both in Gaza and the wider region. 

Given the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the ground in Gaza, the High Representative entered into a dialogue with Israeli authorities on the humanitarian situation. Following this dialogue between the EU and Israel, steps have been agreed by Israel to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The EU expects the immediate and full implementation of these steps. 

The EU strongly condemns the further escalation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, following increased settler violence, the expansion of illegal settlements, Israel’s military operation and increased terrorist attacks against Israel. The EU will continue to work on further restrictive measures against extremist settlers and against entities and organisations that support them, as well as against Hamas. 

The European Council reaffirmed the EU's commitment to a lasting and sustainable peace based on the two-state solution, with the State of Israel and State of Palestine, living side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition. We are ready to contribute to all efforts towards this solution and call on all parties to refrain from actions that undermine its viability. The EU will continue supporting the Palestinian Authority and its reform agenda. 

We look forward to the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia.

With regards to Syria, the EU is committed to supporting a peaceful and inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned transition to help build a better future for all Syrians and it will continue engaging with the transitional government and working closely with regional and international partners to that aim. The EU welcomes the commitment by the transitional government to build a new Syria based on national reconciliation, rule of law, and separation of powers, and the initial steps taken in this regard. 

Human rights and fundamental freedoms must be respected, protected and fulfilled for everyone in Syria from all ethnic and religious backgrounds without discrimination. Women have a fundamental role to play in the new Syria. Syrian civil society, free and independent media, and the Syrian diaspora community have a crucial role to play to ensure the success of Syria’s transition. 

The EU strongly condemns the violent clashes in Sweida over the past few weeks, which have resulted in many casualties. The EU urges all sides to refrain from any further violence and to give a chance to dialogue. The transitional government, together with local authorities, bear the responsibility to protect all Syrians without distinction, and to take all necessary steps towards disarmament, demobilisation and re-integration of all armed groups into unified national security forces. 

A comprehensive and inclusive transitional justice process, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned, is a necessity for reconciliation and lasting peace. All those responsible for grave breaches of international humanitarian, criminal and human rights law must be held accountable and brought to justice. The EU calls for a swift, transparent, credible and impartial investigation of the recent attacks on civilians in Syria’s coastal region, Damascus area, and Sweida, as well as for a transparent and victim-centred follow-up process. The EU calls on the transitional authorities to continue engaging in this respect with the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism and the Commission of Inquiry. The EU also expresses its full support to the important work of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic. 

The EU commends the transitional government’s statements vowing to develop peaceful relations with all countries and to fully respect international law, including UNCLOS. The EU urges all external actors without exception to fully respect Syria’s unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The EU condemns any unilateral foreign military actions and presence as well as attempts to undermine Syria’s stability and prospects for a peaceful transition, including through foreign information manipulation and interference. The EU in particular expresses deep concern at recent strikes in Damascus and in southern Syria, which jeopardise the lives of civilians and risk further fuelling sectarianism and undermining Syria’s transition.

The EU also calls on the transitional government to pursue the fight against international terrorism, in particular Daesh and Al-Qaeda affiliates. The EU condemns the terrorist attack at the Mar Elias Church in Damascus and calls on the transitional government to ensure that those responsible are held to account. The EU calls on the transitional authorities to continue cooperating with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons programme for good.

The EU will continue to play a leading role in humanitarian funding, and is committed to supporting Syria on its path towards stabilisation and reconstruction. The EU lifted all its remaining economic sanctions on Syria with the aim to support Syria’s inclusive political transition, as well as its swift economic recovery, reconstruction, and stabilisation, while maintaining sanctions related to the Assad regime, sanctions based on security grounds, and introducing additional sanctions against human rights violators and those fuelling instability in Syria.

On Lebanon, the EU reiterates its support for the Lebanese people and welcomes the efforts of the new authorities to stabilise the economic and security situation. It encourages the Lebanese authorities to accelerate the process of reforms expected by the Lebanese people, in order to enable the reconstruction of the country.

The EU continues to call on all parties to implement the terms of the 27 November 2024 ceasefire agreement and for the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution (UNSC) 1701. It supports the Lebanese State’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Security concerns should be addressed by making full use of the monitoring mechanism established in the framework of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. Unilateral military actions risk causing civilian casualties and undermine political and diplomatic efforts.

The EU recalls the fundamental stabilisation role of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon, to which EU Member States significantly contribute, and commends UNIFIL’s effective cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces, which is critical for the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and UNSCR 1701. The EU will continue supporting the LAF to this effect, notably through the European Peace Facility. The EU also calls for the renewal of UNIFIL's mandate.

I thank you.

* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.