Von der Leyen calls on the EU to be prepared to deal with the 'consequences' of the crisis in the Middle East

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday urged the European Union to be prepared for the "consequences" of the US-Israel military offensive against Iran in the Middle East. She also warned that the consequences of Tehran's response, which has resulted in more than 550 deaths in Iran, should be taken into account.

Von der Leyen, at a press conference in Brussels prior to the extraordinary meeting of the College of Commissioners focused on security, has warned of the possible consequences, 'from energy to nuclear, from transport to defence, from migration to security'. The head of the European Commission has described the events as' very worrying 'and has indicated that he has been in contact with nine regional authorities and several European authorities over the weekend because the situation is' very changing '.

The leader has been in favour of "working firmly" to prevent the escalation of the conflict, as there have been "numerous attacks", including one against a British air base in Cyprus and one against a Saudi Aramco facility. Von der Leyen has "strongly" condemned the attacks by Iran and its allies on the sovereign territories of the region.

Likewise, following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he has proclaimed "renewed hope for the oppressed people" of Iran and defended his right to "determine his future," but has stressed that the region's stability goes through a diplomatic solution that includes "a credible transition" and the "definitive cessation of Iran's nuclear and ballistic programs."

For his part, Swiss President Guy Parmelin has expressed his "extreme concern" about escalation and called on all parties to reduce tension and ensure the safety of the civilian population. In a joint appearance with von der Leyen, he reiterated Switzerland's readiness to participate and assist in possible de-escalation efforts.

France and Germany, for their part, have taken different positions in the face of the escalation of war in the Middle East: while Paris has been willing to participate in the defence of the Gulf and Jordan countries, Berlin has refused to join the military operations against Tehran and will limit the role of its troops in the region to self-defence tasks.

In the case of the United Kingdom, the British Government is allowing the United States to use its bases in the area to carry out attacks, which provides logistical support for the offensive, although no direct involvement in the bombing has been announced.