The EU foreign policy is lacking effectiveness in international sphere, especially in Middle East. Although being a neighbor of the region and having historical connections, the EU has slowly but steadily lost political influence which it used to wield. Recently, it has been losing the influence much faster. When it comes to the Israel-Palestine conflict, the hesitance indicates the general EU weakness in Middle Eastern affairs. In the past, the EU was engaged with the region, participating in both peacemaking and in giving the support economically.

However, the bloc potency was reduced by the US-led peace process following the Oslo process, basically marginalizing the EU, UN and Russia. The US alone has continued to monopolize on this process, with a strong strategic partnership with Israel. In this format, the EU influence has been limited most of the time. The reason is simple: Washington makes sure that the Quartet – comprising the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia – only plays a symbolic role in negotiating and exerting pressure on Israel.

The EU in recent years has been experiencing an increased representation of far-right movements and the ascendance of leaders who are skeptical of the EU project.

Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally attended a recent EU-GCC summit, the first ever between the two organization, which was held just days before the BRICS annual meeting. It shows that Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, has assessed that the European power remains of immense value. Nevertheless, the EU is still unable to assert an influential political role in Middle East.

The EU’s weakened presence in the Middle East reflects broader challenges to its foreign policy. The erosion of the EU’s influence is part of an overarching decline in its global standing, impacted by both internal economic strains and external geopolitical dynamics. Economic growth in the EU has been slow, with high inflation and immigration pressures adding further complexity. Competing NATO-related defense obligations, particularly in light of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, have stretched resources, reducing the EU’s capacity to focus on interventions in the Middle East and beyond.

Escalation of violence after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 and the military actions carried out by Israel in Gaza and Lebanon has brought the unity in Europe’s Middle East policy under stress. At first, the Europeans demonstrated solidarity with Israel, but soon they had two different viewpoints, as the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu intensified operations in Gaza.

With the Middle East conflict escalating, more significant evidence of heinous acts of mass killings and destructions, the EU members could not agree on a coherent intervention strategy. Most EU countries like Hungary and Austria opposed the possible move, some leaders like EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell openly called for sanctions on Israel. In response, Israel’s government banned Borrell from entry.

Also read: France’s Strategic Gamble To Regain Clout In Middle East

But this lack of unity is visible in other areas too. In 2023, Palestine gained formal recognition for the first time from three European countries – Spain, Ireland and Slovenia – even though the EU giants such as France, Britain, or Germany did not do so. Specifically, Germany has continued to support Israel regardless of the many complaints arising from the actions in Gaza. While individual countries like Italy and France have ceased the supply of defense equipment to Israel, the EU does not have a collective plan on how to approach the US to stop Israel’s attack. The very fact that the EU depends on Washington’s cooperation in Ukraine policy also undermines its influence over the Biden administration.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally attended a recent EU-GCC summit, the first ever between the two organization, which was held just days before the BRICS annual meeting.

The EU’s longstanding financial support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has often been cited as a point of engagement in the region. However, financial contributions alone have not translated into meaningful political leverage or influence over Israel, underscoring the limits of EU’s role. Some EU members, including Spain and Ireland, continue to advocate for Palestinian rights; yet, this advocacy remains largely symbolic without substantial impact on the bloc’s overall foreign policy stance, especially as major players like France and Germany avoid formal recognition of Palestinian statehood.

At the same time, the EU also has to face adversity across the wider Middle East region. These actions were sometimes slow and often ineffective, for example during the Syrian civil war or the Arab Spring. Moreover, the enhanced role of China and Russia is also factor in reducing the EU’s effectiveness as a political player. Currently, Europe also lacks the capability to involve in regional conflicts without a mass deployment of armed forces.

When comes to internal dynamics, the EU is witnessing slow economic growth, higher inflation rate, immigration issues and growing pressure in defense because of the NATO-related budget issues thanks to stretched resources.

On the other hand, the EU in recent years has been experiencing an increased representation of far-right movements and the ascendance of leaders who are skeptical of the EU project. Hungary’s Viktor Orban, and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni – who are prone to prioritizing nationalism over integration – may be changing the EU’s future. This change has led to the decline of the possibility of a coherent common EU foreign policy towards Middle East.

Some of the European countries like Ireland and Spain have been promoting the rights of Palestinians, producing strong reaction from Israel. For instance, Israel has now decided to cut ties with UNRWA.

The war in Gaza has exposed the weakened status of EU, showing that only the United States can stop Israel. It also makes Middle East more and more unstable. This trend is in complete contrast to the past when the European nations were able to pass the Venice Declaration of 1980 and remained instrumental in the Oslo Accords of 1990s.

Europe is one of the most prosperous regions in the world and has still been playing an active role in economic development of Middle East. However, the EU’s diminishing political role in Middle East means a vacuum has been created and other actors are ready to fill that.