The urgent need for strategic leadership by the EU: effective, forceful, and without double standards

Amid growing strife in the Middle East, the EU has compromised its moral and political credibility by failing to adopt a coherent, decisive position to contain military escalation, protect human rights, and open channels for dialogue with all nations involved. At stake is the EU's geopolitical weight and its ability to articulate alliances that range beyond the West to include such actors as the General Gulf Council (GCC), which guarantees the delivery of humanitarian aid as well as political support to effectively mediate and construct a lasting peace.

Brussels cannot limit itself to managing migratory flows or sending aid packages. Today more than ever, the EU must prove that it can coordinate with Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and other GCC capitals as well as Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey to mount a united front capable of curbing the expansionism of Israel's far-right government as well as the ambitions of Iran, both regional and nuclear. Laying the foundations for a lasting peace –including a viable Palestinian state, duly recognized within the framework of a two-state solution– is as essential to Europe's own security as it is to the stability and prosperity of the Middle East at large.

"Laying the foundations for a lasting peace that includes a viable and recognized Palestinian state is essential for the security of Europe and the stability and prosperity of the Middle East"

In line with the 2024–2029 Political Guidelines championed by President Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission is now working on a 'Broader and Comprehensive Middle East Strategy' that includes a €5 billion program of multi-year assistance for the Palestinian Authority (PA), the strengthening of the European Neighbourhood Instrument, and the inclusion of human rights clauses in future free-trade agreements. This translates political principles into concrete financial and legal commitments, ensuring that aid will only be issued under full compliance with human rights safeguards.

Also subject to consideration is the tax pressure exerted on the PA, given Israel's confiscation of a portion of its revenue collection. Recently, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich opted to withhold an additional $90 million from Palestinian tax revenues and distribute this sum to Israeli families allegedly affected by Palestinian terror attacks, as reported by TV7 Israel News and confirmed by the Minister through his 'X' account. This seriously complicates the functioning of the Palestinian Authority, forestalling payments to its own officials and threatening its institutional viability.

Internal division in Brussels

The urgent need for cohesion and leadership was addressed at the meeting of foreign ministers held in Brussels on 15 July, when High Representative (HR) Kaja Kallas admitted that, despite "positive signs" (more humanitarian aid convoys, the reopening of some logistics points in Gaza), "it is clearly not enough, because the situation remains unsustainable." HR Kallas recalled that sanctions against Israel "remain on the table" should no tangible improvements be realized. Nonetheless, non-consensus among the 27 Member States prevented activation of the suspension clauses contained in Article 2 of the EU-Israel Agreement on human rights violations.

"Immobility erodes the moral authority of the Union and confirms the urgent need to overcome its internal divisions and set a unified strategy"

The HR announced an agreement with the Government of Israel to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza, the content of which has not been disseminated. This agreement evidently contradicts the official EU position by stating that under no circumstances should the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation be permitted to manage said aid. Meanwhile, civilians continue to die in humanitarian distribution centers, amid growing famine and continued bombardment. This institutional immobility both erodes the moral authority of the EU and confirms the urgent need to "overcome internal divisions and set a unified strategy", as I made clear in my previous article "The urgency of a new EU strategy in the Middle East" published in Agenda Pública. Without a common voice, the bloc will persist in playing a marginal role in a scenario that demands unity of action.

International law, the EU's essential axis for external action

Last month, I and two other MEPs presented to the European Parliament a report entitled Expert Legal Opinion on the Implications for the European Union of the International Court of Justice's Advisory Opinion of July 2024. Citing international law, this document reaffirms the illegality of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, underlining the need to revise the EU-Israel Agreement, calling for a ban on imports from settlements, and urging that conditions be placed on scientific and financial cooperation with Israel. As the EU's own legal order requires that the bloc and its Member States both respect and apply international law, failure to comply with the aforementioned measures would imply a breach of international obligation. 

"The countries of the General Gulf Council and Europe comprise an alliance based on a shared vision of the emerging configuration of global geopolitics"

To respond to such crises as these, the EU must consolidate its partnerships – political, social, trade, economic – with relevant countries such the Gulf states. Last October, an EU-GCC summit was initiated to "promote global security and prosperity". More recently, the European Commission and the HR welcomed the Council's decision to authorize new negotiations with the six GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait) toward the signing of bilateral Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPAs).
 
In parallel, the GCC countries are also looking to consolidate new strategic alliances. On 27 May of this year, the ASEAN-GCC-China summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, reaffirming a mutual interest in strengthening both regional and strategic cooperation. Just this week, the European Union held a EU-China summit attended by Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, and António Costa, President of the European Council. It should be further recalled that Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government of Spain, made his third visit to China in April, reinforcing European interest in this strategic approach in the midst of the tariff war promoted by the Trump Administration. These initiatives demonstrate that the GCC countries and Europe have been pursuing alliances based on a shared vision of the new global geopolitics.

Leadership in the Gulf

The six GCC members are emerging as decisive actors: they control sovereign wealth funds for post-conflict reconstruction in Gaza and Lebanon; they maintain diplomatic channels with both Tel Aviv and Tehran (as evidenced by the Riyadh-Tehran Agreement of March 2023); and they wield de facto power at the G20 and in energy consortia such as OPEC+. Moreover, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have announced a decision to pay off Syria's debt to the World Bank – part of regional efforts to gradually return Syria to the international stage after lengthy isolation, diplomatically and financially. Abu Dhabi engineered a temporary lifting of blockades in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and Qatar served as a facilitator in the latest round of ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, all highlighting the increasing effectiveness of these actors as regional mediators.

"Green collaboration strengthens Europe's resilience and reduces its vulnerability to geopolitical energy crises"

Beyond their role as regional mediators, the GCC countries have also shown an ability to expand their geographical purview to host peace negotiations on African and European conflicts, including talks between Russia and Ukraine (held in Saudi Arabia) and the signing of a Declaration of Principles (in Qatar) between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the armed M23 faction.

On the energy front, Saudi Arabia and the Emirates have accelerated green hydrogen and solar energy projects in Europe, consolidating their position as clean energy suppliers even as the EU diminishes its dependence on Russian gas. This new green profile for collaboration both strengthens Europe's resilience and reduces its vulnerability to geopolitical energy crises.

Above all, the European Union must demonstrate that its values remain firmly in place despite geopolitical complexities. Remaining active and forging strategic alliances with other global regions will be essential to restoring the EU's credibility and leadership through fulfillment of its own stated principles of peace and justice.