President Al-Sharaa receives an invitation to attend the European Council summit in Cyprus

President Ahmed al-Sharaa has received an official invitation to attend next week's European Council summit in Cyprus alongside the leaders of Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, according  to Cyprus Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Rauna.

The Cypriot official said in a statement   that  all 10 countries of the "Mediterranean Pact" were to be invited, but accelerated geopolitical developments prompted the leaders to adopt a "limited formula" of guests that included Syria.

The security of the Middle East is closely linked to the security of the European Union, Rauna stressed, noting  that the goal is to support de-escalation and send a message of respect for the territorial integrity and independence of neighboring countries.

Nicosia is scheduled to announce on Monday the final list of leaders who have officially responded to the requests, with Rawna confirming that the current trend indicates the presence of the leaders of Syria, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon.

Summit Discussions

The European Council will hold an informal meeting on the 23rd and 24th in the Cypriot capital Nicosia to discuss the repercussions of the war in the Middle East and the future of the bloc's long-term budget.

In a letter, European Council President António Costa extended an official invitation to the leaders of the 27 member states of the European Union to attend the meeting, explaining that during the first day of the summit, a video intervention will be heard from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the developments of the Russian war before moving on to the discussion of the escalation in the Middle East and the serious challenges it poses to the European Union.

Costa pointed out that the summit will focus in its geopolitical aspect on ways for Europe to contribute to de-escalation and peace in the region, and to ensure freedom of navigation, especially in light of the tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, in addition to discussing the Union's tools in confronting the negative economic effects of the rise in fossil fuel prices on the lives of European citizens and companies, based on the decisions of the European Council in March and the proposals submitted by the European Commission in follow-up.

He said that the discussion will also include the EU's readiness to deal with the complex geopolitical and security environment, including aspects related to Article 42 of the EU Treaty on Mutual Defense, in light of the ongoing work to strengthen Europe's defense capabilities.