Top EU Officials to Speak With Middle East Leaders Monday

Article content(Bloomberg) — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, will discuss the unfolding Middle East conflict with leaders from the region on Monday.Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentThe meeting will be a video conference and will focus on getting Middle Eastern leaders’ assessment of the situation, discussing further support from the EU and its members, according to a spokesperson for Costa, confirming an earlier report by Bloomberg.Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentArticle contentThe meeting comes as European Union countries weigh up the spillover risks including the impact on stranded EU citizens, spiking energy prices, a potential migration surge and an increasing possibility of terrorism. Kallas already spoke to local ministers on Wednesday. Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article contentThe International Energy Agency, whose executive director Fatih Birol was in Brussels on Friday, said it sees no need yet to release emergency oil stockpiles amid the Middle East crisis, as global oil supplies are plentiful and the impact appears likely to be temporary.Article contentThe war, which began with US and Israeli strikes targeting Iran on Feb. 28, has roiled energy markets and driven up prices for crude, natural gas and oil products, threatening to unleash a wave of global inflation. This leaves Europe particularly exposed, since it already drastically reduced energy imports from Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.Article contentThe EU was indirectly pulled into the conflict this week when an Iranian-made drone hit a British base on the island of Cyprus, an EU member. Out of caution, the bloc has canceled a string of meetings this month in the country, which currently holds the bloc’s rotating presidency and is situated near the Middle East. Article contentArticle contentFrance, Italy and Greece have also agreed to coordinate any military shipments to Cyprus and to work together to guarantee navigation freedom in the Red Sea. Article contentEU foreign ministers held a call this week with the Gulf Cooperation Council, a group of six Middle Eastern countries that includes Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.Article contentIn a statement after the meeting, ministers affirmed the Gulf countries’ right to take “all necessary measures to defend their security and stability and protect their territories, citizens and residents.”Article content(Updates with presence of top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas, official confirmation and details on energy starting in first paragraph)Article contentTrending Beer, wine sales fall even more, putting tax revenues on the rocks, but one boozy drink is on the rise Retail & Marketing ‘As dead as fried chicken’: Why Trump finally fired Noem Economy CNRL says it will delay $8-billion mine expansion until carbon pricing rules are clear Oil & Gas These eight charts show 'rupture' with Canada under Trump's tariffs Economy Posthaste: Canadians are paying more than lip service to Buy Canada — and now the numbers prove it News Share this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Beer, wine sales fall even more, putting tax revenues on the rocks, but one boozy drink is on the rise Retail & Marketing ‘As dead as fried chicken’: Why Trump finally fired Noem Economy CNRL says it will delay $8-billion mine expansion until carbon pricing rules are clear Oil & Gas These eight charts show 'rupture' with Canada under Trump's tariffs Economy Posthaste: Canadians are paying more than lip service to Buy Canada — and now the numbers prove it News