EU-GCC extraordinary meeting: Press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas
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Good morning, everybody.
Today we have an extraordinary meeting with the EU Foreign Ministers and the Ministers from the Gulf. We are, of course, talking about what is happening in the Middle East.
Iran is exporting the war, trying to expand it to as many countries as they can, to sow chaos and we are calling for stability and seeing what we can do together.
Of course, our first priority is also the safety of our citizens that are currently in the region. We are organising the response, and we are organising our people out of the region. We are really coordinating the consular services.
And then what we see in the Middle East, we see actually the same drones that are attacking Kyiv every day now, attacking also the Middle East. And there actually also Ukraine can help the Gulf countries, because they have developed drone interceptors and drone protection. So, we can see also how we can put these things together to help the countries to fight back the drone attacks.
This is the essence of our discussion today.
Q&A
Q. What could the European Union provide to the GCC community, in terms of security, maritime safety, for example? And, if you do not mind, how worried are you that this war would bring fragmentation in Iran as a country?
Maritime security - we are extremely worried about this. And that is why also European naval assets have been sent to the region, because the security of the Strait of Hormuz and the trade routes are extremely important for the European Union, but also for the Gulf countries. So, we are trying to keep these trade routes open. This is what we are doing regarding the naval missions. And your other question?
Q. My second question is, there are some groups, who are getting arms. How worried are you that this war may lead to the fragmentation of the country?
Every time when we have seen these wars before in the Middle East, we have also seen that it does not go that easy. That one day there is war and the next day there is democracy. So clearly, the risks are there. When we talk to the countries in the region, they are also worried about civil war inside Iran because of the regime's leadership and what is going on there. Of course we cannot tell, nobody can tell how does it really go, but the risks are clearly there.
Q. Do you think the regime will be toppled, thanks to the US and Israel war efforts?
Well, usually the regimes are trembling from inside, not from attacks from outside, but of course the regime has been considerably weakened, so it gives also, the opportunities for the Iranian people to actually decide their own future.
Q. Besides the Gulf countries, do you think there is enough solidarity between EU members, particularly Germany and Spain?
We are in this European Union with 27 countries, and we have shown solidarity before in different types of crises that we have. Of course, we might have different views on things, but in the end, I think this solidarity between Member States is very clear.
Q. What is the impact on Ukraine, the supply of air defence, sanctions, oil price, all this stuff?
There is a clear impact on the war on Ukraine as well, because there are defence capabilities that are needed in Ukraine now moving also to the Middle East. There is also the issue of supply chains, of supplying the capabilities that Ukraine needs, now also the Middle East needs when it comes to air defence, for example. And there is also the issue of the oil price. The oil price, when it goes up, it actually benefits Russia to fund its war. And that is why we have to really push through the maritime services ban that we can really curtail the shadow fleet and the oil revenues that Russia has, to fund this war.
Q. Because of the crisis in the Middle East and a new wave refugee came to Europe, are you ready to take them?
We had on Monday also a discussion in the College about different aspects, how does it influence Europe, and one of the aspects was also the migration pressure. We do not see it yet, but clearly, if the war drags on, the risks of migratory pressure on Europe will increase, and we have to be prepared. That is why we are also talking to other countries that we are cooperating with.
Q. How difficult is it now to find common ground to have a strategy on how to handle the situation?
On Sunday, when we had the Foreign Affairs meeting, we were able to come to a common decision by 27 Member States. Right now, we are negotiating the common statement with European Member States and the Gulf countries, which is of course harder. What is our common view is that we want stability in the region. We want that this war does not go any further, and we want the respect of international law.
Q. The situation in the Middle East has a great impact on the energetic system of the entire European continent, but it also has an impact on Moldova's energetic system. Today, Moldova starts an alarming state in the energetic situation, how is Europe to approach the energetic security entirely? And in particular for Moldova, as a candidate country?
I hope that the Commissioner for Energy will actually share also with the wider public that we are not dependent on the oil that is coming from the Gulf states. It does not have that impact on us when it comes to security of supply. But of course, if the market prices are rising, then it has [an] impact more widely. But right now, we do not see that yet, so there is no room for panicking.
Q. For arms supplies for Ukraine, how huge is this risk [inaudible]?
Well, you see that everybody has the need for air defence. So Ukraine has [this] need, also the Middle Eastern countries have the need. When it comes also to drone interceptors, there is a need in both of these wars. So, there is really a problem with production. We need to also do more on the European side and really speed up. When it comes to drones and interceptor drones, Ukraine has really been able to produce a lot and can also share this knowledge with the Gulf countries to boost this production. So, of course, we are looking into this, but I am worried that, just the capabilities are limited, and that is why it will have an impact also on different wars.
Q. About the diplomacy, High Rep, since the first meeting you said we have to explore the diplomatic options. Do you see any diplomatic space, taking into consideration that you are still in contact in Iran [inaudible] and the French President announced that coalition to save the maritime security, is it ASPIDES or some kind [inaudible]?
On maritime security, we have two missions. We have Operation Atalanta and ASPIDES that are in the region. But of course, right now, they are not in the Strait of Hormuz. European naval assets are really coordinating to have the protection of also the Strait of Hormuz, so that we have the trade routes. When it comes to diplomatic outreach, then it is clear that wars really end in diplomacy, and there has to be room for diplomacy here to really get out of this cycle of escalation.
Q. So is the EU offering any concrete aid to the Gulf countries?
We are discussing this today. One of the things is the drone interceptors that Ukraine is also offering. What we are saying to the Gulf countries is also to have the contacts with Ukraine and President Zelenskyy, how they can work together. I have had also calls with Gulf countries, and they have been really surprised how much Ukraine is helping them in this regard, keeping in mind that they are under heavy attacks all the time, and maybe the support has not been, really, a two-way street, but one-way street. But maybe it changes, actually, from this day on.
Q. Nothing from the EU side [inaudible] ?
From the EU side, we are providing support to get the civilians protected and the consular support and what we can do. But in terms of what more can we do, we are discussing this today, what are the needs as well, where we can come.
Q. I know that Georgia is not on the agenda but I have to ask you, because yesterday, Georgian Dream adopted the most repressive amendments to law against the civil society, media, even against business. So what is your estimation on this move?
Adopting these laws is extremely regrettable and it shows that the Georgian Government is really not on the right track when it comes to a European accession.
Q. How concern are you about President Trump’s threats towards Spain and what do you expect from the other Member States how to deal with this [inaudible]?
Trade is a European competence. We have a trade deal with United States that was signed in June. We hope that United States also respects this agreement that applies to all the Member States.
Thank you very much.