Pedro Sánchez reiterates in Brussels that an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the implementation of the two-state solution are more urgent than ever

Brussels (Belgium)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, this afternoon took part in the working dinner of the European Council, where European leaders discussed various foreign policy issues, such as the war in Ukraine and the Gaza crisis, as well as the strategic debate on the European Union's relations with Turkey.

The EU-27 reiterated their full and unwavering support for Ukraine, its people and its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The European Council also strongly condemned Russia's continued air and missile attacks against the civilian population and civilian and critical infrastructure in Ukraine, including the intensification of attacks against the energy sector. In this regard, the European Union and Member States will step up the provision of humanitarian and civil protection assistance.

During the first session of the European Council, European leaders underlined the need to urgently provide air defence to Ukraine and to accelerate and intensify the delivery of all necessary military assistance. In addition, they welcomed progress on proposals to direct extraordinary revenues from Russia's frozen assets to benefit Ukraine, and called for their swift adoption.

The second aspect addressed was the situation in the Middle East. Pedro Sánchez welcomed the conclusions adopted by the EU-27, which show a commitment to work with their partners to put an end to the Gaza crisis without delay, while condemning Iran's attack on Israel, calling for restraint on all sides to avoid escalation, and once again calling for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. In this regard, the EU-27 have called for the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2728, demanding an immediate ceasefire. The European Union also affirmed that it remains firmly committed to a lasting and sustainable peace based on the two-state solution.

The European Council strongly and unequivocally condemned the Iranian attack on Israel and reiterated its commitment to Israel's security and stability in the region. It called on Iran and its proxies to cease all attacks and urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any action that could increase tensions in the region.

In this context, the 27 EU member states agreed on their readiness to work with all partners to prevent a further escalation of tensions in the region, in particular in Lebanon, and reiterated their support for the country and the Lebanese people, while recognising the difficult circumstances it is facing internally as a result of regional tensions.

The European Council also confirmed the EU's commitment to the stability of Lebanon and the need to support the most vulnerable people in Lebanon and to support the fight against trafficking and smuggling of human beings.

The third issue addressed during the first meeting of the European Council was the strategic discussion on EU-Turkey relations, taking note of the Joint Communication from the High Representative and the Commission on the state of political, economic and trade relations between the European Union and Turkey. In this regard, the 27 agreed that the EU has a strategic interest in a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the development of a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship with Turkey. European leaders also stressed the importance of the resumption of and progress in the Cyprus settlement talks for enhancing cooperation between the EU and Turkey.

In this regard, on his arrival at the European Council, the Prime Minister stressed that Spain has an extraordinary bilateral relationship with Turkey and that the European Union's positive agenda with Turkey should be promoted, a position that the Spanish government will maintain and has traditionally maintained.

Non official translation