European countries call for restraint amid escalating conflict in Mideast

Brussels: European leaders have voiced deep concern over the escalating conflict in the Middle East, following a series of military strikes that have intensified fears of a wider regional war.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, in a statement released Monday, said the Croatian government is “monitoring the situation with great concern,” particularly the direct confrontations between Israel and Iran, Xinhua news agency reported.

He warned that further escalation could lead to a range of consequences, including rising energy prices, increased migration, and the threat of terrorist attacks.

“Our position is clear: escalation should be avoided,” the statement read. “The Croatian government calls for restraint, calming of tensions, and de-escalation of the conflict.”

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also criticised the recent US military action in the region, calling the strike on Iran a violation of international



law.

“There is no doubt that the United States violated international public law,” Vucic said at a press conference following a meeting of the General Staff.

Drawing parallels with the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, he emphasised the need for respect for the UN Charter and international norms. Vucic also lamented the missed opportunity for diplomacy between Iran and Israel.

In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addressed the lower house of parliament ahead of the upcoming European Union Council meeting, urging renewed diplomatic engagement.

“Only coordinated diplomatic action can ensure peace in the region,” she said, after the US strike on three Iranian nuclear sites.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa issued a statement on Sunday calling for “restraint and the urgent resumption of diplomatic efforts,” stressing that diplomacy remains the only viable solution to the conflict.