At the beginning of today’s session of the European Parliament, MEPs discussed with the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell the attack by Iran against Israel and the need for de-escalation and a response from the EU. Bulgarian MEPs Elena Yoncheva and Andrey Kovachev called on Borel the European Commission to make more diplomatic efforts to help free the Bulgarian citizens who were captured six months ago by the Yemeni Houthis in the Red Sea.
Iran’s attack on Israel on April 13 was unprecedented, Borrell said. “This was the first time that Iran directly attacked Israel from its territory with hundreds and hundreds of drones and missiles. And we should not forget the Israeli attack that happened before that, which we also condemn,” he continued.
This attack represents a significant escalation of an already very tense situation in the region, where we have witnessed dangerous games of attack and retaliation, Borrell pointed out. He quoted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as saying that “the region is on the brink of an abyss.”
Still, there is an opportunity for talks, and the task of the EU institutions should be to draw attention to the situation at the moment so that the escalation does not continue, Borrell noted.
“There is a clear political consensus to extend the existing sanctions against Iran,” the head of European diplomacy said. Iran, along with North Korea, is one of the most sanctioned countries in the world, but in my opinion, sanctions should not be the only policy, he continued. According to Borrell, sanctions are only tools of politics and they are not enough to deter Iran. “This should be obvious against the background of international sanctions that have been ongoing for many years,” he pointed out.
“I think now is the time for diplomacy. Let’s make maximum diplomatic efforts, act, calm the situation and ask everyone to do their part,” Borrell said.
During the discussions in the plenary hall, some MEPs called for stronger sanctions and the inclusion of the Iranian Republican Guard in the list of terrorist organizations. Bulgarian MEPs Andrey Kovachev from the EPP and Elena Yoncheva from the Group of Socialists and Democrats joined the discussion.
Yoncheva stated that Europe should be a leader in the initiative to achieve peace in the Middle East and expressed regret that the crisis in the region is growing, threatening the interests of the EU and the safety of European citizens. She gave as an example the attacks of the Yemeni Houthis in the Red Sea, in one of which three Bulgarians and a Romanian were taken hostage six months ago.
Yoncheva pointed out that the EU should not leave the battle for their release to individual member states. She called on the union to demonstrate leadership in the field of diplomacy with a strong and active position and wondered if it would have come to this if it had been about citizens of larger European countries. According to Yoncheva, this undermines trust in the EU and causes a feeling of double standards. She turned to Borrell and urged the European Commission to support diplomatic efforts to free the hostages.
Kovachev pointed out that Iran, through its network of influence, which includes Hamas, Hezbollah, the Yemeni Houthis and many others, is responsible for the destabilization of the Middle East and the Red Sea region. He stated that the jeopardy of maritime shipping, and by extension world trade, must stop.
Kovachev also called on Borel to do more so that the sailors captured by the Houthis from the ship “Galaxy Leader” are released as soon as possible.
At the end of the discussions, Borel stated that the European institutions will continue with their diplomatic engagements with all countries in the region. “The world does not need another war in the region,” he pointed out.
