The EU leadership welcomed the recent agreement reached between the United States and Iran, stating that this deal could “open the door for more extensive discussions.” Speaking at the start of the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that the ultimate goal of these talks should be an end to Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. She stressed the essential need to open the Strait of Hormuz without levies, arguing that this is crucial for both regional stability and the global economy.
However, von der Leyen cautioned that lasting peace would be difficult to achieve “as long as Lebanon remains engulfed in strife.” The Iranian conflict had exposed dependencies in energy supply and transport reliant on the Strait of Hormuz. Consequently, she announced that the summit would include discussions on how to reduce this reliance.
The three-day summit has four central themes. Chief among them will be the situation in the Middle East and its economic consequences. The peace deal announced between the US and Iran on Sunday is expected to spark considerable discussion within this complex context.
Another major focus is the general development of the world economy, specifically addressing the risks associated with global imbalances, including China’s export surplus. Additional topics on the agenda include critical raw materials and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Overall, the summit is scheduled to feature five working sessions through Wednesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will participate on Tuesday, alongside the heads of state and government from India, Brazil, Egypt, and South Korea. Based on the current arrangements, a comprehensive final declaration encompassing all outcomes is unlikely; however, specific declarations on individual topics are anticipated.
