The European Union in the Middle East

"The Middle East is becoming increasingly important for the EU, but at the same time its influence in the region has declined significantly in recent years. Following the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel and with Cyprus taking over the Council Presidency on 1 January 2026, there is now an opportunity to look ahead," says cep foreign policy expert Marius Strubenhoff. Traditionally, the EU has played an important role in the Middle East. Today, however, military power factors dominate global politics, while the EU, as a non-military actor, is losing influence.

In view of these developments, the EU faces the pressing question of how it can strengthen its capacity to act and play a role in the Middle East similar to that it has played in the past. The EU's Middle East strategy, announced for the coming year, offers an opportunity to develop a coherent and effective policy. It will be crucial for the EU to succeed in combining its role as an economic partner with strategic influence, thereby strengthening its position in the Middle East in the long term.

A central focus of EU Middle East policy is on foreign trade initiatives, in particular the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The IMEC is seen as a geostrategic response to China's Belt and Road Initiative and competes with similar projects in Turkey and Russia. Other key projects include the EuroAsia Interconnector and the EuroAfrica Interconnector. These are intended to connect the European electricity grid with Israel and Egypt, thereby strengthening the energy link between Europe and the Middle East. For several years now, cooperation with the Gulf region has also been a central component of EU foreign policy – both geopolitically and economically. However, the EU remains too divided in its Middle East policy. Strubenhoff warns that the development of the EU's Middle East strategy must be used as an opportunity to come together again after years of dispute.

"Europe must also come of age in the Middle East and establish itself as a relevant geopolitical player with projects such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Otherwise, the EU risks becoming a service provider that is involved in concrete projects in the region but ultimately has little influence on developments on the ground," Strubenhoff urges.