12-hour EU summit merely exposes Europe's impotence amid two raging wars

Brussels summit merely exposed Europe's impotence amid military conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, the publication stressed.

"Rarely has the EU's inability to take a leading role in international affairs been so obvious," the journalists wrote.

"European leaders could only turn away and argue with each other while bombings, missile strikes, and killings continued."

Regarding Iran, the Europeans found they lacked sufficient leverage and will for significant intervention. As for Ukraine, more than four years after Russia's full-scale invasion, EU leaders were unable to overcome internal divisions and approve the allocation of €90 billion to Kyiv, Politico stressed.

The situation in Iran was not ignored. In particular, discussions resumed about sending French warships to the Strait of Hormuz, possibly backed by the UN Security Council. However, the final summit statement contained no promises to form any new mission, merely mentioning the strengthening of existing EU naval operations in the region.

By the end of the talks, European leaders came to a sobering conclusion: Europe has little power or desire to influence the course of events.

The bloc is left only to do "what we always do" — write "good statements," EU representative said.

The EU achieved no results on the issues of Iran and Ukraine, the authors of the article summarized. Previous forecasts by diplomats that leaders might continue discussions overnight or even gather for a second day did not materialize.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán reiterated on March 19 that he will not support any decision in favor of Ukraine until oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline are restored. This concerns, in particular, a €90 billion loan for Ukraine, a decision agreed upon at the EU Council on Feb. 24. Hungary is blocking the final adoption of documents related to the funds allocation.

EU leaders failed to convince Orbán to drop his blockade of the loan during the first day of the summit on March 19; an hour-and-a-half discussion yielded no results.