EU at the Security Council: reopen Hormuz without tolls, reverse E1 and keep a UN presence in Lebanon after UNIFIL

The European Union told the UN Security Council on 15 October that the Strait of Hormuz must fully reopen “without tolls, service fees, discriminations”, and that Israel should reverse settlement expansion, “including in the E1 area”. Stavros Lambrinidis, head of the EU Delegation to the UN, spoke on behalf of the EU and its member states during the quarterly open debate on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

Iran and the sea lanes. The EU welcomed the ongoing US-Iran diplomacy and urged all parties to avoid renewed hostilities, saying a lasting settlement requires negotiation. It said any arrangement must preserve freedom of navigation under international law. On the Red Sea, it said its naval Operation Aspides has protected more than 720 vessels, and it condemned the Houthi attack on Riyadh’s airport, demanding an end to attacks on Saudi Arabia and on commercial shipping. It also called for the release of UN, NGO and diplomatic staff detained by the Houthis.

Gaza and the West Bank. The EU voiced concern at the slow implementation of the ceasefire and the lack of progress on Security Council Resolution 2803. It called for Hamas’s permanent disarmament, a full Israeli withdrawal and the deployment of the International Stabilisation Force. It urged Israel to allow “unimpeded access and sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale”, including through the Cyprus Maritime Corridor, and to reopen crossings. It said nearly 90 percent of Gaza’s population is displaced.

The EU said it is deeply alarmed by the situation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, called E1 settlement construction illegal under international law, and warned businesses against bidding on settlement projects. It backed reform of the Palestinian Authority, urged Israel to release withheld clearance revenues and regretted the postponement of Palestinian elections to September 2027, offering an Election Observation Mission. Geopolitiki covered that decision here: Australia, Canada, France and UK “deeply regret” Palestinian decision to postpone elections to September 2027.

Lebanon and Syria. On Lebanon, the EU supported the trilateral framework agreement, called on Israel to withdraw its forces and condemned Hezbollah’s attacks, calling for its full disarmament. It stressed ensuring “that there is no security vacuum in the south following the end of UNIFIL’s mandate” and the importance of “a continued UN presence in Lebanon in a post-UNIFIL context”. On Syria, it supported an inclusive transition, called for protection of Kurdish rights in the north-east and urged Israel to respect the 1974 disengagement agreement and buffer zone.

The full statement is published by the European External Action Service.