EU absent but directly affected by Middle East crisis

Good morning from Brussels,

Politically, EU member states are struggling to develop a common position on the Middle East crisis.

But practically, several EU capitals have warned that they will be the first to be affected by a potential refugee wave if things escalate in the wider region with the involvement of more regional players.

More than one million Lebanese have already been displaced in recent weeks, and 100,000 have crossed to Syria.

However, the timing is problematic for Europe, as rising far right has intensified its anti-migration rhetoric, affecting mainstream parties’ agenda. In Germany, remaining pro-refugee lawmakers have resorted to the Council of Europe to challenge the federal government’s migration U-turn.

“The EU remains a safe haven for those forced to leave their homes due to persecution, wars, conflicts or natural disasters, as per the Geneva Convention”, a European Commission Spokesperson told Euractiv.

Nicoletta Ionta analyses the geopolitical puzzle Europe is trying to solve.

Meanwhile, listen to Euractiv’s podcast, which hosts experts from the International Organisation for Migration who describe the situation on the ground.

During a meeting on Wednesday afternoon, parliamentary group leaders approved a plan to begin hearings of commissioners-designate on 4 November.

Meanwhile, far-right Confederation MEPs Anna Bryłka and Tomasz Buczek announced that they had joined the recently formed far-right EU group, the Patriots for Europe.

On economy, former Italian prime minister Enrico Letta said on Wednesday that the United States ownership of European citizens’ banking data and domination of global payment systems mean that the EU is increasingly becoming a “financial colony” of the US.

In the agri-food sector, the EU executive proposed a one-year extension to the transition period for enforcing the EU's anti-deforestation regulation (EUDR), following months of pressure from member states, trade partners, and stakeholders.
Last but not least, shortcomings in the EU's funding of the coordination and delivery of vaccines has led to empty shelves in partnering countries according to the European Court of Auditors.

PARIS

French President Emmanuel Macron warned in Berlin on Wednesday that EU economic thinking must change urgently, or the union risks being "out in three, four years” against US and Chinese competition. Read more.

Barnier promises unprecedented €60 billion budget measure for 2025. France will take unprecedented action to lower its public deficit for 2025, with the new Barnier government's advisors announcing plans on Wednesday to save €40 billion and potentially earn an additional €20 billion in revenues. Read more.

///
BERLIN

Defiant pro-refugee lawmakers seek ways to challenge German migration U-turn. Discontent with the German government’s harsh rhetoric on migration is increasing as remaining pro-refugee lawmakers resort to the Council of Europe, open letters, and resignations to recentre the debate on human rights. Read more.

LONDON | BRUSSELS

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have agreed to hold regular leaders' summits between Britain and the EU following Starmer's visit to Brussels on Wednesday. Read more.

ROME

G7 leaders still hope for diplomatic solution in Middle East, Italy says. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urgently convened a phone conference with G7 leaders on Wednesday in response to the escalating Middle East crisis, resulting in a strong condemnation of Iran's attack on Israel. Read more.

///

MADRID

Spain to send two military plans to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon. Spain will send two military aircraft to Beirut on Thursday to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon amid escalating violence in the region, Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles said on Wednesday. Read more.

///

LISBON

Portugal’s high debt, budget surplus is an ‘exception’ in EU - Commission advisory body. The European Fiscal Board (EFB), the European Commission's independent advisory body, considers in its annual report that Portugal is an ‘exception’ in the European Union (EU) for having high debt and achieving a structural surplus. Read more.

KYIV

As Russia is likely to launch attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure this winter, Kyiv is currently in talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to place foreign observers near its nuclear power plants to protect the country's energy supply. Read more.
///
WARSAW
Far right Patriots for Europe group joined by Polish members. Far-right Confederation MEPs Anna Bryłka and Tomasz Buczek announced that they had joined the recently formed far-right EU group, the Patriots for Europe. Read more.
Poland hails step towards defusing Ukraine Volyn massacre history row. The Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance announced it planned to authorise field research in 2025 into the Volyn massacre in western region of Rivne, a dark episode of massacres by Ukrainian nationalists during World War II. Read more.

SOFIA

Bulgaria strengthens security over Middle East crisis. Bulgaria is stepping up preventive security at some locations in response to the recent events in the Middle East, caretaker Interior Minister Atanas Ilkov announced during a briefing on Wednesday. Read more.

///

BUCHAREST | SOFIA | ATHENS

Romania, Greece, Bulgaria request measures to address higher energy prices. Romania, Greece and Bulgaria have requested several measures to address the consistently higher energy market prices in Eastern Europe compared to Western Europe in recent months, with Romanian Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja saying on Wednesday that the request would be discussed on 15 October. Read more.

***

[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Martina Monti, Alice Taylor-Braçe]