EU Commission chief says temporary Lebanon pause 'not enough,' urges permanent peace

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday that a temporary pause in hostilities in Lebanon "is not enough," calling instead for a "permanent path to peace."

EU leaders held a press conference alongside Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, with regional participation from Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, following the informal leaders' meeting in Nicosia.

"A key lesson of the past weeks is that security is indivisible. You cannot have stability in the Middle East or the Gulf while Lebanon is in flames. So we call for the respect of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity," von der Leyen said, stressing that regional security in the Middle East is "intrinsically linked."

"A temporary pause is not enough. We need a permanent path to peace," von der Leyen added.

Von der Leyen welcomed recent ceasefire arrangements in the region but cautioned that they remain fragile and insufficient to guarantee long-term stability.

She also argued that any lasting peace deal must address Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, describing them as a "real danger" to regional security.

Von der Leyen highlighted plans for deeper EU engagement with Syria, including upcoming high-level political dialogue aimed at exploring future cooperation frameworks.

EU Council President Antonio Costa echoed the call for de-escalation, saying the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has had "disastrous consequences" for civilians and the global economy.

He urged the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz "without restrictions," calling freedom of navigation "vital for the entire world."

"The situation in Lebanon remains a grave concern for us. We hope that an extended ceasefire on the ground, and we call for diplomatic efforts to continue in full respect of international law and Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Costa said.