MEPs discuss with Josep Borrell Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel, the need for de-escalation and the urgent need for an EU response. They will vote on a resolution on Thursday. EP President Roberta Metsola described Iran’s direct drone and missile attack on Israel on 20 and 21 April, the as a major escalation in the region and warned it risks igniting further chaos across the Middle East. MEPs will assess the situation in a key debate on Wednesday morning, followed by a resolution on which they will vote on Thursday.

VERHOFSTADT, Guy (Renew, BE)

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Iran (T)

EU - Israel (T)

GARCÍA PÉREZ, Iratxe (S&D, ES)

BORRELL FONTELLES, Josep (PSE, ES, EC)

JUKNEVIČIENĖ, Rasa (EPP, LT)

NEUMANN, Hannah (Greens/EFA, DE)

Situation in the Middle East (T)

Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel, the need for de-escalation and an EU response: extracts from the debate

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/75976002/1713789208210_I256160Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World, We, the European Union together with the member States, we have taken a strong stance by asking all actors in the region to move away from these abyss, as the Secretary-General was mentioning. We discussed it at the foreign ministers level on Monday. We all clearly condemn the Iranian attack and confirm our commitment to the security of Israel. There is a political consensus to expand the existing sanctions against Iran. Sanctions alone cannot solve the risk of escalation, and place has to be given to diplomacy. Diplomatic action has to be equally important. I think this is a moment for diplomacy: to deploy maximum diplomatic effortss, to act to calm down the situation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ (EPP, LT), Why did Iran dare to attack Israel directly for the first time in history? I see two reasons: the first is deteriorating situation in Ukraine on the Eastern front and the Russia's factor: the second is the lack of political will and leadership on the Western Front, Washington, D.C. included. In the eyes of the terrorist alliances, of dictators the U.S. looks weakened. That is the reason why they raise their heads and attack.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&Iacute;A P&Eacute;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), The action-reaction spiral that Israel and Iran have undertaken sees them moving towards a regional war. And we need to put a stop to that. diplomacy must prevail over the rhetoric of warmongering, which produces no solutions, which and just leads to more fear, more death and more destruction. And given this, the European Union needs to stand firm, and together we are committed to Israel's security from vis-a-vis an attack from Iran. And there's no better way to show our firmness to the Ayatollah regime than to widen sanctions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT (Renew, BE), We don't like your strategy. We want that you change your strategy. Your strategy of diplomacy and appeasement leads to nothing at all. Do nothing at all. And are saying: we did sanctions. What sanctions we did? Only three r five people. How many, can you tell us. I think it's our three, four or five, and simply for exporting weapons to to Russia. So this Parliament asks you to change the strategy based on real sanctions against the leadership of Iran, first. Secondly, recognizing the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. I don't understand why you don't do it. And finally, don't start to continue with diplomacy towards the regime. It's time to recognize the opposition and to have direct contacts with them. They are the real representatives of the Iranian people.

SOUNDBITE (English), Hannah NEUMANN (Greens/EFA, DE), Sit and wait is no option. And more diplomacy alone will not be enough. We urgently need to work on a plan B, a regional security architecture which addresses the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and preparedness for new attacks by the Iranian regime. And frankly said, what more does this regime have to do until you finally wake up to the harsh realities? The IRGC is a terror organization and it should be designated as such.