Newstalk Reporter Eamonn Torsney gave Newstalk Breakfast the latest updates on the EU Summit underway in Brussels.
EU leaders were expected to spend the first day of the EU Summit on Thursday thinking of ways to bolster Europe’s economy in uncertain times.
The agenda quickly turned to the two ongoing conflicts in Iran and its surrounding region and in Ukraine.
Newstalk Reporter Eamonn Torsney told Newstalk Breakfast that little new information emerged on how European countries will be dealing with the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz during the EU summit.
“All that emerged in terms of the Middle East was a statement which called for de-escalation”, he told Newstalk.
“There was a reluctance to get dragged into the actual situation there, particularly in the Strait or Hormuz.
“All we see really are statements calling for de-escalation and a call for all sides to abide by international law and in terms of the conflicts.
“It just gives the impression that the EU is a bit of a bystander in the conflict. It may have to pay a price for the conflict.”
He added that the price was already being felt with rising costs but that EU members repeated calls for ceasefire and appeasement seemed “divorced from reality”.
“That power really lies with America and Israel, really, and Iran as well. We’re really stuck where we were before the actual summit started”, he added.
“You have to get everybody singing from the one hymn sheet and we didn’t get that”, he told Newstalk.
Eamonn Torsney explained that conversations were being held on preparing for increased migration as a result of the conflict and how Europe ought to prepare.
“They want to be prepared to ensure there isn’t a situation like 2015 where we had large numbers of people moving to Europe coming from the Middle East”, he said.
“They’re saying borders are closed.”
The conversation moved to discuss attempts to convince Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán to lift his veto on the 90 billion euro needed in Ukraine.
Members of the European Parliament participate. Picture by: The Associated Press.“Viktor Orbán stood his ground at the meeting”, he told Newstalk Breakfast.
“There were sharp exchanges at the press conference late last night.
The President of the European Council used the phrase that ‘no one would blackmail the EU and our EU institutions’”.
The President of the European Council, Ursula Von Der Leyen and Antonio Costa have insisted the loan will be paid but have admitted it is currently stalled.
Eamonn Torsney said it seemed like “everyone’s just waiting for the elections in April to be held in Hungary to see if that will change the situation on the ground.”
He noted that while Ukraine was not given access to a Hungarian loan which could help them fight Russia, the latter country was getting more money due to increasing oil prices.
Main Image: Ursula von der Leyen. Picture by: Omar Havana.
