EU's costa, von der leyen talk to middle eastern leaders on Monday, spokesperson says

EU Leaders to Hold Video Conference with Middle Eastern Leaders on Regional Crisis

EU and Middle Eastern Leaders Address Regional Crisis

BRUSSELS, March 6 (Reuters) - EU leaders Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen will hold a video conference with Middle Eastern leaders on Monday to discuss the situation in the region, a spokesperson for Costa said on Friday.

Purpose of the Video Conference

"This exchange will provide an opportunity to hear leaders' assessments of the situation and to discuss further support from the EU and its member states to countries in the region, as well as ways to bring the current conflict to an end," the spokesperson said.

Recent Diplomatic Engagements

The foreign ministers of the 27 EU members discussed the situation in Iran and the broader Middle East with their counterparts from the Gulf Cooperation Council in a video call on Thursday.

Calls for Dialogue and Diplomacy

During the meeting, they all called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the crisis, while reiterating that Gulf countries have the right to defend themselves against Iran.

(Reporting by Lili Bayer and Inti Landauro, editing by Bart Meijer)