The ongoing Iran conflict and resulting disruption to global energy flows have pushed the European Union to explore alternative energy transport routes in the Middle East, as soaring oil and gas prices strain member states and expose vulnerabilities linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc is now prepared to deepen cooperation with Gulf nations to develop new energy corridors that would reduce dependence on conflict-prone transit points.
“The events of the past month have taught us a hard lesson,” von der Leyen told reporters after an informal summit of EU leaders in Cyprus. “Our security is not just related, it is intrinsically linked. A threat to a merchant vessel in the Strait of Hormuz is a threat to a factory, for example, in Belgium.”
She stressed that the EU is also considering strengthening maritime security cooperation and expanding its naval presence, including drawing lessons from its Red Sea operations, while prioritising investment in energy infrastructure across the Gulf region.
“We are also ready to team up with the Gulf countries to diversify export infrastructure away from solely the bottleneck of the Hormuz Strait,” she said, adding that the bloc is prepared to help repair energy facilities damaged during the war.
The Strait of Hormuz typically carries around one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies, but the conflict has significantly disrupted flows, contributing to a sharp rise in energy costs worldwide.
Early Friday trading reflected the strain, with Brent crude rising 98 cents to $100.33 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate increased 81 cents to $96.66.
Von der Leyen also revealed that the EU’s energy expenditure has surged dramatically, stating that the 27-member bloc has spent an additional €25 billion over the past 43 days due to the price spike.
Although no specific projects were confirmed, she referenced the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor as a possible model for future infrastructure cooperation.
Discussions are expected to continue at an upcoming EU-Gulf Cooperation Council summit later this year.
The rotating presidency of the EU is currently held by Cyprus, which has been actively promoting stronger ties between Europe and Middle Eastern partners.
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides hosted several regional leaders at the summit, including Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, and GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi.
“We know that Europe needs Syria as much as Syria needs Europe,” al-Sharaa said, while Aoun called for EU assistance in rebuilding Lebanon after years of conflict.
European Council President António Costa praised Lebanon’s efforts to curb Hezbollah, describing the group as “an existential threat,” and pledged support for regional stabilisation efforts.
Costa added that “the European Union is not part of the conflict, but we will be part of this solution.”
Human rights organisations criticised EU leaders for not taking a stronger stance against Israel’s military actions in the region.
Meanwhile, several European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, ruled out easing sanctions on Iran, insisting that restrictions would remain until issues such as its missile programme and regional activities are addressed.
“It’s too early to talk about relief of any kind of sanctions,” Costa said.
Cyprus itself has already experienced spillover effects from the conflict, after a drone launched from Lebanon struck a British military base on the island earlier in the war.
In response, several European countries deployed naval assets with anti-drone capabilities to the region.
The incident has renewed attention on EU treaty provisions for mutual defence among member states.
Christodoulides said leaders had agreed to begin developing a structured response mechanism, arguing that “ad hoc arrangements” are insufficient for future crises.
