Good morning, everyone. Can I ask you to please take your seats. The sitting is open. I have one announcement before we start in relation to the decision by several committees to enter inter-institution negotiations pursuant to rule 72 paragraph 1. I announce that at the opening of the session on Monday, 27th April, I have received no request for a vote in Parliament by members of political groups reaching at least a medium threshold. The committees may therefore start negotiations.
The next item on the agenda is Council and Commission statements: EU strategy in response to the ongoing Middle East crisis, its implications on energy prices and the availability of fertilizers. We will start with the Council, Deputy Minister for European Affairs representing the Cypriot Presidency, Marilena Raouna.
Madam President, honorable members, President of the European Commission, thank you for this very important debate which comes in the immediate aftermath of the informal leaders meeting in Cyprus last week which focused on the EU's contribution to de-escalation, freedom of navigation, and addressing the impact on energy prices. It is abundantly clear that the ongoing crisis in the Middle East carries profound global repercussions that directly impact the Union's security environment and interests. As noted in this hemicycle last month, this conflict is neither abstract nor distant. Quite the contrary, it is in our neighborhood. It has wide-ranging consequences on our security and economies, and it requires us as European Union to actively engage and act in unity with a coherent and coordinated approach.
Acting in unity also requires clarity of messaging and action, including on what to achieve in the long run. These include restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz in line with international law and UNCLOS with no caveats or restrictions, working and contributing towards de-escalation that can pave the way for a lasting ceasefire and long-term peace and stability, and working to ensure that Iran does not acquire or develop the capacity to produce nuclear weapons.
To achieve these objectives, our cooperation with our Middle Eastern Gulf partners is not merely important, it is a necessity. The Union has maintained regular and close contact at different levels with countries in the region. We have expressed solidarity with our regional partners who have been attacked and affected by this war, partners who have shown to be reliable even in the midst of attacks on their territory. And we have reiterated our commitment to work with them for stability while at the same time working to expand our dialogue and our strategic cooperation. In this regard, we have welcomed the ceasefire agreed by the United States and Iran on the 9th of April. We encourage parties to continue engaging in good faith.
Diplomacy remains the only viable path towards restoring stability. The EU will continue to contribute to all diplomatic efforts in line with its consistent, reliable role drawing on its diplomatic reach, experience, and long-term partnerships. These core messages were clearly articulated both by the European Union and regional leaders last Friday in Nicosia in a productive meeting in the margins of the informal leaders meeting between the European Union and leaders from Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and the Gulf.
Honorable members, as mentioned, safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is a primary concern given the massive impact on EU competitiveness, the energy market, and the impact on prices and cost of living. Disruption to energy and global trade flows and prices trigger ripple effects on fertilizer supply, on food prices, on economic growth, as well as on investment partners.
In the context of safeguarding freedom of navigation, the role of EU maritime defensive operation Aspides that is providing a critical contribution to keeping one of the world's most vital waterways open and secure is critical. In parallel, the Council is fully committed to working on new proposals that would help to mitigate the impact of the crisis on energy prices directly reflecting the conclusions agreed during the European Council in March, the one Europe, one market roadmap which was co-signed in Cyprus in the margins of the informal leaders summit by the three institutions. There is no silver bullet. As long as the EU continues to depend on imported fossil fuels, we will remain vulnerable to price spikes.
It is clear that European strategic autonomy, European independence, goes hand in hand with energy security. That is why it is essential to stay the course on our energy transition goals in expanding domestically generated and affordable energy together with short-term measures agreed to mitigate energy spikes. Our strategy is twofold. On the one hand, implementing immediate measures to stabilize energy prices while simultaneously forging a robust energy union to secure our long-term strategic independence. The Greece package is an essential part of this effort. Regarding fertilizers, we're looking forward to receiving the Commission's action plan in the context of which we look to short-term measures to respond to the current circumstances, as well as measures to increase the resilience of the EU agricultural sector by reducing our reliance on imports.
While we tackle the effects of the conflict in Iran, we cannot lose sight of the other sources of tension in the Middle East. Lebanon is paying a heavy price for a war it did not choose. Too many have lost their lives, and we have seen attacks on UN peacekeepers which are unacceptable. We welcome the ceasefire and ongoing preparatory talks under US auspices, and we urge all sides to end hostilities and fully respect Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
We also cannot lose sight of the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. There needs to be progress on the implementation of the Gaza peace plan, in the absence of which there is a risk of undermining the fragile political momentum with all that this entails, including providing Hamas with the opportunity to consolidate control. The EU remains committed to do its part with all the tools at its disposal. In this framework, we convened last week two important international meetings in Brussels, that of the Global Alliance and that of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee. Ultimately, just and sustainable peace can only be reached on the basis of a two-state solution in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Thank you for your attention.
