You are reading the Reporter on Monday March 30. This is it Nikoletta Ionta in Brussels.
Need to know:
🢢 Europe under pressure as the blockade of Hormuz escalates
🢢 Foreign ministers will meet in Ukraine this week
🢢 Cyprus says the EU has yet to see an increase in Iran-linked migrants
From the capital
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz has reached an uneasy deadlock and Europe is running out of room to stand aside.
Over the weekend, Yemen’s Houthi movement announced its entry into the US-Israel war against Iran. the shooting a barrage of ballistic missiles into southern Israel on Saturday and opening a new front in the regional conflict.
The escalation follows February attacks on Iran by Israel and the US, after which Tehran moved to choke one of the world’s most critical energy arteries, threatening ships trying to transit through the strait. The result is a de facto blockade of a chokepoint that held roughly a fifth of global crude oil and liquid natural gas – a shock that is now rippling through global markets and European households.
G7 leaders gathered again on Friday to get an answer, repeating The “absolute necessity” of restoring freedom of navigation through the strait. Finance Ministers will today discuss the consequences as energy prices continue to rise.
France said its military chiefs met about 35 counterparts to discuss a possible future initiative to protect ships in the Gulf, though only after hostilities have subsided.
European governments have so far refused to back down in any military effort to reopen it. The bloc’s chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has framed conflict as “not Europe’s war”. The EU has instead supported one limited reinforcement of her naval mission in the Red Sea, Operation Aspideswhile rejecting any expansion of its mandate in the Persian Gulf.
This position is becoming more difficult to maintain. Rising oil and gas prices are fueling political pressure across the continent. However, EU leaders fear that any military intervention could drag Europe into a widening regional conflict.
On Sunday, the EU naval mission in the Red Sea warned that attacks on merchant ships may resume soon, particularly in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, following Houthi attacks on Israel. The development could force a renewed debate on the purpose of the mission.
For now, diplomats remain cautious. The Houthis have not yet targeted shipping in the Red Sea. “If that changes, a discussion about the mandate can always take place,” a diplomat told the Reporter, adding that it was too early to tell.
If the Houthis were to resume attacks on ships in the Red Sea, the conflict could escalate further. A closure of the Houthi-controlled Bab al-Mandab strait would raise energy prices and deal a new blow to the global economy.
Across the Atlantic, Donald Trump is losing his temper. He has publicly accused European allies of complaining about high energy prices while refusing to take part in what he called a “simple military maneuver” to reopen the strait. This week, he extended his deadline for Iran to lift the blockade by 10 days, until April 6.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is is expected to cut EU foreign ministers on the Iran file – an idea floated during the G7 talks – although no date has yet been set, an EU official said.
Buca’s commemoration faces a political stalemate
EU foreign ministers are meeting in Kiev this week to mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s atrocities in Bucha, as divisions over support for Ukraine continue. Ministers will discuss further support for Kiev, with Hungary continuing to veto a €90bn loan aimed at replenishing Ukraine’s finances and supporting its war effort.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó is expected to skip the meeting, although a Hungarian delegation will attend on Tuesday, three officials told my colleague Magnus Lund Nielsen and me.
Szijjártó is under surveillance for his contacts with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about the EU Council meetings. Budapest is demanding that Kiev resume Russian oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline before lifting its veto, despite agreeing to the loan last December.
There are no signs of an increase in immigrants from Iran, Cyprus says
The Chief of Migration of Cyprus, Nicholas Ioannidesstruck a cautious tone about fears of a surge of refugees in Europe linked to the conflict in Iran, in an interview with the Reporter.
“There is no sign of flows from Iran at this stage,” he said, noting that past regional wars – including Iran-Iraq – did not cause mass exodus to the bloc. Instead, displacement tends to remain internal or limited to neighboring countries.
For the first line Cyprusthe bloc’s easternmost state, instability is nothing new. “Unfortunately, our neighborhood is very volatile,” he said. “Every time an armed conflict breaks out in the region, we are preparing, we are preparing in order to face possible migratory flows.” Last month, British bases on the island were the target of ATTACKS by Iranian drones.
However, Brussels and national capitals are watching closely. A recent letter from Italy and Denmark asked the Commission to avoid a repeat of the 2015 crisis, including preparing emergency measures if arrivals increased. Ioannides called such concerns “normal” but insists the bloc is better equipped this time, citing stronger legal frameworks, improved infrastructure and clearer procedures ahead of the EU’s migration pact in June.
Digital detox for MEPs headed to China
Nine MPs from the Internal Market Committee will HEAD in Beijing and Shanghai this week – the first such visit in eight years – for talks with Chinese officials on technology and e-commerce, as well as meetings with companies such as Shein, Alibaba and Temu.
Officials advised participants not to carry personal devices, a person briefed on the mission told my colleague Anupriya Datta. French lawmaker Stéphanie Yon-Courtin said MEPs will follow “best practices” for secure communication.
A spokesman for the European Parliament said Euractiv that “necessary measures” had been taken to ensure the security of the information, calling the matter “sensitive”.
Parliamentary travel was banned during the pandemic and further frozen after Beijing sanctioned some MEPs in 2021.
The EU’s €1 trillion shift to renewables falls short
After decades of pouring billions into wind and solar, Europe is facing another energy crisis, with its reliance on foreign supplies largely unchanged from 20 years ago. In 2004, the EU imported 56.9% of its energy, despite ambitious promises that renewables would turn the bloc from energy poor to energy independent. Two decades later, this figure has barely budged, reaching 57.2%.
My colleague Nikolaus J. Kurmayer reveals why the bloc’s green transition has not yet delivered energy independence. Read on full story.
MEPs pile pressure on Russia Biennale
A cross-party group of MEPs is urging the Commission to follow through on its warning to withdraw EU funding from the Venice Biennale if Russia is allowed back in. Last month, commissioners Micallef and Virkkunen exploded the decision to allow Russia to reopen its national pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale.
In a letter to von der Leyen and Kallas – and seen by the Reporter – the lawmakers argue that the bloc must match words with action after the Commission said it can suspend funding for Moscow’s participation.
“Culture should never be used as a platform for propaganda,” Brussels warned at the time, but MEPs now want concrete steps, including sanctions checks and a cut of nearly €2m in EU support if the pavilion goes ahead. The commission did not respond to a request for comment before publication.
Shuman roundabout
The tip of Schengen knocks on the MEP’s door: Italian police carried out a “preventive check” on Saturday morning on the far-left MEP Ilaria Salis at her hotel in Rome ahead of a weekend of politically charged protests, following a request broadcast by an unnamed European country – raising fresh questions about parliamentary immunity in the EU. Read on full story.
Capitals
BERLIN 🇩🇪
Syrian President Ahmed al-Shaara will travel to Berlin today for talks with Friedrich Merz on Tuesday, making his first official visit to Germany. The trip, postponed from January due to fighting in eastern Syria, comes as efforts intensify to integrate Kurdish-led forces into the national army. The discussions are expected to focus on Germany’s role in the reconstruction of Syria, Euractiv has learned.
РBj̦rn Stritzel
PARIS 🇫🇷
The French authorities have arrested three people on a suspected foiled bomb attack targeting Bank of America headquarters in Paris, prosecutors said. A suspect was arrested at the scene after placing a flammable liquid device and an ignition system near the scene. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the incident could be linked to the US-Israel war against Iran, although investigations remain ongoing.
– Christina Zhao
MADRID 🇪🇸
In a letter to party members on Sunday, Pedro Sánchez reaffirmed Spain’s opposition to war with Iran, saying the country “speaks clearly” and remains “on the right side”. He also highlighted a new energy support package, including fuel and tax cuts, describing it as the EU’s strongest social safety net and a source of national pride.
– Inés Fernández-Pontes
BRATISLAVA 🇸🇰
Robert Fico has again threatened to withhold support for a new EU sanctions package against Russia, warning that Bratislava could block further measures if the European Commission prioritizes Kiev over Slovak interests. He also signaled opposition to Ukraine’s rapid accession to the EU, as ties with Kiev deteriorate over disruptions to the Druzhba oil pipeline.
– Natalia Silenska
BELGRADE 🇷🇸
Local elections in 10 Serbian municipalities were tense in the first electoral test for a student protest movement in a year and a half. According to local media, the vote was marred by reports of irregularities, including attacks on journalists, activists and observers. Full results are expected today, with the ruling Serbian Progressive Party widely expected to retain control.
– Bronwyn Jones
Also in Euractiv
Sharpening the knives: the EU’s tobacco battle begins
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Brussels is heading for a showdown over its first comprehensive assessment of the health effects of alternative tobacco products as officials weigh tougher regulations alongside tough negotiations over taxes and EU budget revenue.
With national governments divided and unanimity required on tax reforms, diplomats warn that disagreement over taxes and evidence could derail efforts to harmonize policy on e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches.
contributor: Anupriya Datta, Charles Cohen, Magnus Lund Nielsen, Nikolaus J. Kurmayer
The editors: Christina Zhao, Sofia Mandilara, Charles Szumski
