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Special Report: A crunch EU summit torn between two wars and a looming energy crisis
As European leaders gather in Brussels for a summit torn between two wars and a looming energy crisis, Euronews presents Special Report, hosted by Maria Tadeo and our team of correspondents. Live tonight at 7 pm Brussels time.
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2026/03/19/special-report-a-crunch-eu-summit-torn-between-two-wars-and-a-looming-energy-crisis
Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages
As European leaders gather in Brussels for a summit torn between two wars and a looming energy crisis, Euronews presents Special Report, hosted by Maria Tadeo and our team of correspondents. Live tonight at 7 pm Brussels time.
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2026/03/19/special-report-a-crunch-eu-summit-torn-between-two-wars-and-a-looming-energy-crisis
Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages
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NewsTranscript
00:10Hello and welcome to Euronews. I'm Maria Dodeo and this is Special Report.
00:14We are coming to you live from Brussels where European leaders are gathering for a summit torn between two wars
00:21and a looming energy crisis.
00:23The European Central Bank saying stagflation is now a real possibility for the European economy.
00:30High inflation and low growth. All of this amid escalation in the Middle East strikes by both Iran and Israel
00:37sending oil prices and gas prices today soaring 30% on the day.
00:43Of course, we are going to debrief these with our correspondents, Shauna Murray and Merit Wynne-Jones, as well as
00:49our guests.
00:50But before we do that, let's take a look at what European leaders have been telling us.
00:53There are no alternative of international rules-based order because the alternative is the war in Ukraine.
01:02The alternative is unfair competition on trade.
01:06We will continue to ask for de-escalation.
01:09What we saw this morning happening over the last hours has a direct impact on the region, but also on
01:17Europe.
01:18Not only in terms of security, but also in terms of rising prices that we see on energy sources that
01:26we are dependent on.
01:27The Iran's attacks on Qatar energy infrastructure create further chaos and it's clear that we need an exit from this
01:36war, not escalation.
01:38This is a very defining moment for the European Union and I think that we need to send a clear
01:43message to our citizens and the rest of the world that Europe is with multilateralism and is with international law
01:51and we are against this war.
01:52We would like to get the oil which is ours from the Ukrainian and which is now blocked by the
01:57Ukrainians.
01:57I will never support any kind of decision here which is in favor of Ukraine.
02:02Still, the Hungarians are not able to get the oil which belongs to us.
02:06So, you know, it's not a joke.
02:07It's not a political game.
02:08Zelensky should understand it, that this is not a game.
02:11We have to do the loan.
02:12It's as simple as that.
02:13It has been politically decided, so it has to be executed.
02:17We have to continue to support Ukraine financially, but I also believe that Europe should be present at the negotiating
02:22table.
02:26European leaders calling for de-escalation, but of course that is easier said than done.
02:30I also want to bring you some new lines from the President of the United States speaking to reporters saying
02:35once again this war is needed, it is necessary, it was something that was required for global security.
02:41President Trump also telling reporters he will not put boots on the ground in Iran and says that it will
02:47end soon without given details.
02:49But of course that is the big question and it is the question for European leaders to gathering in Brussels.
02:55Let's now go to Shauna Murray, who has been monitoring the summit since it started about nine hours ago now.
03:01Shauna, this summit was supposed to be about the European economy, was supposed to be about bolstering the European industry,
03:07and now it's been completely rattled by the geopolitics.
03:12That's right, Maria.
03:13Another EU summit, another situation where the EU is forced to respond to a crisis not of its making.
03:19At this stage, of course, the Iran war.
03:21And EU leaders have really responded in the past few days quite harshly at what's happening in Iran because of
03:26the fact that they weren't given any information ahead, they weren't consulted.
03:30Friedrich Merz, the German Chancellor, said that if he had been consulted, he would have advised against this war.
03:35Meanwhile, however, they do realize that this is going to have a major impact on the European economy and worse
03:41if they don't respond.
03:42And what we've heard in the past hour or so, because EU leaders have sort of completed their discussion around
03:47the Middle East,
03:47what they're saying is they're trying to come up with some ways to deal with the very dramatic situation, which
03:53is a quote from an EU source.
03:55Now, there is no necessary solution to that yet because what they have clarified is they won't be sending their
04:01people into harm's way.
04:02So they won't be sending sailors or EU vessels into a hot conflict.
04:06And we've also seen a statement from the G7, including Japan and the Netherlands, saying that they would also try
04:12to talk to the United States to come up with a solution.
04:14But again, really very much making it clear that they won't be putting EU people into harm's way, nor will
04:21they be reducing assets from places like the Baltics or the Arctic.
04:25Maria?
04:28So, Shana, thank you so much for that.
04:31And I also want to bring, as I say, some new lines because President Trump is also saying that he
04:35will not allow Israel to hit energy facilities.
04:38Obviously, there was a hit on an Iranian gas field that has sent gas prices soaring today 30 percent up
04:44on the day.
04:46The president of the U.S. also repeating that he is disappointed or disappointed, I should note, at NATO allies.
05:16And once again, those are the comments from the president of the U.S. saying he is disappointed at NATO.
05:21And, Shana, going back to you on the question of energy, because that is a relevant question for the Europeans,
05:27what can they do if anything?
05:29Oil is above $100 a barrel.
05:31Gas is up 30 days on the day.
05:32What can they do?
05:35Well, this is a real problem because you have sort of factions really emerging with the European Union saying that,
05:41well, maybe we should totally dismantle some of our green policies because they're costing too much money.
05:47And you have other member states saying, no, we need to actually charge ahead with renewables.
05:51Because if we were in this situation, if we had charged ahead with renewables and green policies a long time
05:56ago, we wouldn't be so reliant on fossil fuels.
05:58And therefore, the impact of the situation in the Strait of Ombuds wouldn't be damaging our economy at the moment.
06:04So that is actually one of the key discussions surrounding that.
06:07And it's probably one of the only areas where the EU has some control.
06:09The only problem is getting a consensus.
06:12Maria?
06:15Of course, and that is not a minor problem.
06:17And now let's go to the U.S. because we are joined by John Bolton, the former National Security Advisor
06:23to President Trump.
06:25Sir, thank you so much for joining us on Euronews.
06:28Pleasure to be with you.
06:29Thanks for having me.
06:33And, of course, you worked very closely with the President in his first term.
06:37You know how he works.
06:38You know his psyche, his mind.
06:40And that is important because ultimately he is the commander in chief.
06:43What we're seeing now is a timeline that looks erratic.
06:47The goals appear to be changing.
06:48Is there a plan?
06:51Well, I don't think anybody knows the answer to that, including Donald Trump.
06:55I think he said at the outset his goal was regime change.
07:00Many of his advisers have said the goal was something else.
07:03But as recently as a few days ago in a speech in Kentucky, Trump said we don't want to have
07:09to come back and do this every two years, which strongly implies regime change in his mind is still the
07:15objective.
07:19So that is the goal.
07:20And you're also a vocal supporter of regime change in Iran.
07:23But from the outside, it seems this regime is not changing or if anything is doubling down on the hardliners
07:28and the protests are not really happening.
07:30Is regime change really possible now three weeks into this war?
07:34Well, it took them 47 years to build the regime, so I don't think anybody should be surprised that it
07:40hasn't collapsed in three weeks.
07:42Hundreds of top leaders have been eliminated and the bases and communications and assets of the Revolutionary Guard have been
07:52decimated.
07:53It's not really a question of the people going out in the streets.
07:56It's a question of working with figures in the regime who don't want to go down with the ship and
08:02who, as the regime comes apart at the top, will come over to the side of the opposition.
08:10So can I ask you very bluntly, is this now a moment where the U.S. and Israel need to
08:15double down until it's done?
08:17Well, I think if Trump really wants regime change, he certainly could have done a lot better preparation for it.
08:25But if that's your objective, you have to have patience and persistence to see it through, because if you if
08:32you give up before you accomplish it, you may be worse off than if you had never started.
08:41OK, so if you want to accomplish it, however, the president was clear today that he will not put boots
08:46on the ground.
08:47Is he going to have to in the end?
08:49Well, that's what he says today.
08:51Who knows what he'll say tomorrow?
08:52I mean, there is a contingent of Marines on the way and we'll see how things develop.
09:03And if this doesn't go well for the president, are we looking at the biggest diplomatic disaster for the U
09:08.S. in decades?
09:09Do you look at this as a major, major mistake, strategic mistake?
09:14Well, Trump will declare victory no matter what happens.
09:16And the argument will be that the nuclear weapons program has been set back further, that their support for international
09:24terrorism has been set back further.
09:26But if the regime survives, however much damage has been done to it, it will build back and the nuclear
09:33threat and the terrorism threat will simply return.
09:39And, of course, that means that the Operation Epic Fury becomes an epic flop.
09:43I do want to ask you, however, in terms of the coordination with Israel, we did see the president saying
09:47Israel should not hit energy.
09:49And he also put out that social media post saying Israel is lashing.
09:53They need to stop that.
09:54How close do you think these two are working?
09:57Well, I think they're working very closely.
09:59In the White House this morning with Japanese Prime Minister Takeichi there, he said he had spoken to Netanyahu that
10:06he was aware of the attack and that he suggested Netanyahu not do it.
10:11But then he said we're very well coordinated and everything's fine.
10:28Well, I think it is a problem.
10:44Because the European reaction is incorrect.
10:46This is Europe's war.
10:48Europe's just as much, even more at risk on the nuclear side.
10:51Why, sir? Why is it Europe's war?
10:53Because Europe is just as much, if not more, at risk from nuclear attacks.
10:59If Iran gets nuclear weapons, it has the missile capability to hit Central and Eastern Europe, not the United States.
11:05And Iran has carried out terrorist attacks in Europe.
11:09And to say, as some European leaders have, that it's not Europe's war is simply an invitation to Donald Trump
11:17to say, OK, fine, it's not Europe's war.
11:21And, you know, Ukraine, it's not America's war.
11:23That's a mistake.
11:28Well, sir, thank you so much for joining us on Euronews.
11:31I appreciate it, as always.
11:33And let's go back to our top story, because European leaders are gathering in Brussels.
11:38The summit is underway.
11:40And earlier I spoke with Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Andrei Yurav.
11:43He is an important voice in the context of the border peace, because Bulgaria was one of the few European
11:50countries to join in on this effort.
11:52I began by asking in our conversation, how concerning is it this escalation in the Middle East when it comes
11:58to the economy and the politics?
12:01Well, we are pretty worried at the moment, simply because we don't know what the end game of the whole
12:06situation is.
12:07So Europe should speak in one voice here and try to get to the negotiation table and see what can
12:15be done so that this conflict de-escalates and how this will react then to supply chains, energy, prices and
12:24similars.
12:24And what can we done or can be done?
12:26Because President Trump this week appeared to be angry at European allies and NATO, saying the one time we need
12:31help, they are not helping.
12:33What is the concern, or do you see European action in the Strait of Hormuz?
12:38At the moment, I don't see direct involvement of the European Union in the Strait of Hormuz.
12:45But in any case, we are longstanding partners.
12:48Europe has always stood beside its allies and partners.
12:52And I think the right way forward is to get back to the negotiation table and discuss together with our
12:59partners how this war can be ended.
13:01So it's about diplomacy now.
13:03Is there a diplomatic role when it comes to Iran, however?
13:06Because it seems the language coming out of Israel and certainly the U.S. is that this is a terrier's
13:10regime.
13:11It will not get done or change through words.
13:14You still believe there's a diplomatic way out?
13:16I think that one thing is certain.
13:19And the ballistic program and the nuclear enrichment of Iran has to be stopped.
13:25And there are different ways how to do this.
13:27And sometimes different diplomatic styles work well.
13:31And on that note, diplomatic styles.
13:33At the start of the year, President Trump presented this Board of Peace.
13:36And Bulgaria was one of the very few European countries that joined.
13:39The truth is, two months later, there's another war going on.
13:42It's not really brought peace.
13:44Was it a good idea to join this Board of Peace?
13:46Well, first of all, this treaty is not ratified by the Bulgarian parliament.
13:52It's being signed under the condition that it will be later ratified.
13:56And it's not been introduced yet in parliament.
14:00So we have not joined this Board of Peace.
14:03What we actually wanted to show is that Bulgaria supports the extensive plan for peace in Gaza.
14:09So what concerns Gaza and the Board of Peace, Bulgaria is supporting this area.
14:15But I don't think that the other treaty will be ever ratified.
14:19So the Bulgarian parliament is probably not going to ratify this.
14:22In hindsight, do you look at it and go, well, it was a bad idea.
14:25Maybe Bulgaria should have thought about it twice or at least look at the detail, the fine print.
14:30Well, I think it would be an exaggeration to say that this is a Bulgarian position.
14:34It's not really a question of international politics.
14:38It's not even a question of local politics.
14:40It's actually a personal question of one oligarch, which is sanctioned by the Global Magnitsky Act.
14:47And the whole signing of this treaty has actually to do with him being removed from this list of sanctions.
14:56I don't think it's going to work.
14:58What is surprising, unfortunately, is the influence that this oligarch has over some pretty important parties in Bulgarian parliament.
15:06So it seems to me that you are saying, yes, it was a political maneuver and perhaps a big mistake.
15:12Just as a final question, however, when it comes to the U.S. beyond the Board of Peace,
15:16how do you go about a president like President Trump, who is now asking for help but did not brief
15:21Europeans that a war was imminent in Iran?
15:24Is there a way that you can talk to a president like this?
15:27How do you go about what is, some would say, erratic diplomacy, others would argue is unusual?
15:33So what is important in this kind of volatile situation is to preserve partnerships, which have worked on both sides
15:41of the Atlantic for many years now.
15:44At the same time, of course, it is important that we talk, that we keep our eyes on the goal
15:51and be flexible in the means to achieve the goals.
15:54Even when you have a president at the Times that has said, the Europeans are weak, they're not helping.
15:59Now he says, perhaps they face a bad future within NATO.
16:01Do you read between the words?
16:03Is that something that you have to do with President Trump, the language and then the action?
16:06I see this as a stress test for the European Union.
16:09And we clearly recognize that the European Union should speak in one voice and it should get stronger and stand
16:16on its own feet.
16:17And that message so far has been that this is not Europe's war.
16:20Prime Minister, thank you very much for joining us.
16:26Joining the Board of Peace was not Bulgaria's decision, but the decision of one oligarch.
16:31Very rarely you get this kind of language when you talk to politicians.
16:34That is, of course, Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Ander Yurgov.
16:37And now the other man of the hour here in Brussels, Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
16:42When he made his way into this Brussels summit today, he said there would be no money for Ukraine until
16:47and unless the Druzhba pipeline is restored, connecting Russia to Hungary.
16:52And he made good on that threat because he's still vetoing that loan.
16:56Let's go now to Meryt Wynne-Jones.
16:58She's been monitoring the story for us here on Special Report.
17:01So, Meryt, the Prime Minister of Hungary is now moving an inch from his position.
17:08Indeed, Maria, a very, very defiant Viktor Orban here today.
17:13As you said, saying, as long as there's no Russian oil flowing to my country via the Druzhba pipeline, I
17:19will be blocking this crucial 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine.
17:23Remember, that pipeline was damaged in late January in what Kiev said was a Russian drone strike.
17:29But the Hungarian Prime Minister has directly pinned blame on the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
17:35And this has really spilled out into a very public dispute.
17:38Now, EU leaders spent around 90 minutes trying to convince Orban to climb down, but to no avail, Maria.
17:46There was a really tense atmosphere.
17:48One diplomat told me that that discussion was very fiery.
17:51And that's because EU leaders are very exasperated here.
17:54They say Ukraine desperately needs that money if it is to hold the front line.
17:58But also they're frustrated with the way that this has really spilled over into Orban's re-election campaign back at
18:05home,
18:05where he has even been accusing the EU and Ukraine of colluding with Ukrainian opposition in order to weaken his
18:13position
18:13as he goes into this last stretch of this very crucial re-election campaign ahead of the elections on April
18:19the 12th, Maria.
18:22OK, so the election is coming up and the European leaders are exasperated, but that's not going to give Ukraine
18:27the money.
18:28So what comes next?
18:31Well, exactly, because there is really no plan B, Maria.
18:35Either Orban approves this loan or Ukraine is not getting the money any time soon.
18:41There are really two ways out, I would say, at this point.
18:45Either the Drushba pipeline is repaired and the oil flows from Russia are restored into both Hungary and Slovakia.
18:52Orban then climbs down on his veto.
18:54So Zelensky has said that those repair works could take as much as a month and a half, though.
18:59So that's not going to happen any time soon.
19:01And realistically, the other really way out is that there is a result on April the 12th in that Hungarian
19:08election,
19:09where Orban is not re-elected, that would also potentially solve this issue.
19:15So really all eyes, Maria, on what happens when Hungarians head to the ballot box in just a few weeks'
19:20time.
19:21Back to you.
19:24Well, thank you for that, Meryl.
19:26And of course, the flip side to the story is Ukraine.
19:28And earlier I spoke with the Ukrainian finance minister, Sergei Marchenko,
19:32and I began by asking him this veto.
19:34How critical is it for Ukraine finances?
19:38It's definitely not welcoming news from Brussels, but I think that all our counterparts and countries which support in Ukraine
19:50are doing their best to secure Ukraine's financial needs for the next two years.
19:56That's why I'm confident enough that rather sooner than later we will be able to get access for this 90
20:03billion euro loan.
20:04And I have no doubt that it will happen because we practically speaking have a very close cooperation with different
20:12European departments.
20:14We have finalized right now our strategy, which includes all necessary spending facilities for our budget defense lag as well
20:24as budget lags.
20:25So from our perspective, we are doing our best with relevant departments to prepare everything for a political perspective to
20:34be ready to kick off the loan.
20:38So sooner than later, you say, but the prime minister of Hungary, he keeps repeating this pipeline.
20:44The Drushva pipeline has been sabotaged on purpose.
20:46And he says if there's no oil, there's no money.
20:49Is that something that concerns you that by the end of April, you'll have to wait until the end of
20:54the Ukrainian election,
20:55maybe even May, June, you may still not get this money.
20:58When does it become critical for Ukraine?
21:00Well, I don't want to comment on any political sensitive questions.
21:04So I believe that this question is very sensitive politically.
21:08That's why please let me abstain from answering this question.
21:11I don't want to comment on any political questions which can question our credibility or give additional arguments for our
21:20opponents.
21:21And of course, there's a third party here, and that is the EU, the European leaders.
21:26Today, the message that we heard is that a deal is a deal.
21:28This was agreed in December and it needs to happen.
21:31But obviously, if it doesn't happen and there's no loan, is it time at some point, would you say, to
21:37think about a plan B,
21:38maybe bilateral contributions on the interim, bring up back again the idea of the Russian frozen assets?
21:44Thank you, Maria, for mentioning frozen Russian assets.
21:46It's a good hint for us to repeat that we are ready to open again this discussion.
21:55I think that in December, these intermediate steps, which provide us 90 billion loan, was a good signal of support
22:04of Ukraine.
22:05But the best possible signal is a reparation loan.
22:08Definitely, it's something we really needed.
22:11That's why if there is no solution for the plan A, so let's speak about any other sort of possible
22:18decision.
22:19So you're saying, if I understand correctly, that for Ukraine, you have not given up on the frozen assets.
22:25You've not given up on the reparations loan.
22:27Of course not.
22:28Of course not.
22:29It's our strategy.
22:31We really think that it's fair enough to expect that Russia should pay for damages they've done in Ukraine.
22:38That's why no doubts from my side.
22:40I repeated this in my meetings with G7 Ministries of Finance.
22:45In December, I mentioned that we are not happy with this decision.
22:49Of course, again, we are grateful for this decision, but we are fair enough to expect that bigger decisions can
22:56appear.
22:58And, Minister, of course, your job is to make sure that the Ukrainian economy is able to operate in very
23:03difficult circumstances.
23:05I do wonder, however, the idea of a ceasefire.
23:08It has been floated many times.
23:09Ukraine says it's ready to accept it.
23:11Russia has not until now.
23:12When you look at the rest of the year, and maybe even going into 2027, are you preparing for a
23:18budget that is still dedicated to war?
23:20Well, you know, we are very pragmatic in our ministry.
23:23So any positive scenarios, of course, we are welcome in any negotiations.
23:28We really take care about our stance on this matter.
23:32But to be honest with you, we are preparing for any scenario for us.
23:36That's why, despite the fact that we plan on going to war for this year only, we are ready to
23:43start thinking what we can do in 2027 and to prepare ourselves for a longer war.
23:49And just as a final question, sir, of course, there is the other pressure point, and that is sanctions.
23:55We are seeing the situation in the Middle East.
23:57It's also complicated things for Ukraine.
24:00There has been some easing of sanctions, certainly when it comes to Russian oil.
24:04How do you assess that?
24:05Is that something that you say it is a really bad idea?
24:08Or do you understand where the thinking is coming from?
24:11I don't want to estimate the decisions which now different leaders are making in a rush.
24:20Because when you're in a rush, you're making some very quick decisions which are not fully prepared.
24:26That's why I prefer to stick to the real strategy to impose additional sanctions on Russia.
24:35Right now, it's like we provide them with additional benefits to wage a war in Ukraine.
24:41Well, Minister, thank you so much for joining us on this special program and appreciate it.
24:44Thank you. Bye.
24:49And that was Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergei Marchenko saying,
24:53When you make decisions in a rush, you can make mistakes.
24:55That is, of course, a reference to that decision from the U.S. administration to ease some of the sanctions
25:01in Russian oil at sea.
25:02Because the energy question is very much at play in this summit.
25:07We've seen oil prices now hover above $100 a barrel.
25:10Gas prices today up 30%.
25:12This is going to have a major repercussion on the European industry and the European households.
25:18And this is one of the themes debated by leaders today here in Brussels.
25:21Let's go back now to Shauna Mary, who's been monitoring the story for us.
25:26Now, Shauna, let's go back to the Middle East.
25:28The Europeans keep saying this needs a way out and it should be diplomatic.
25:32How can they do this? Do they have a voice?
25:37Well, that's a key question. I think that's really important.
25:40But actually, you know, at the start of this show, we talked about how EU leaders had finished their discussions
25:45on the Middle East.
25:46And the conclusions were, you know, fairly weak and fairly light, calling for a de-escalation
25:50and saying that they would try to discuss with the United States and amongst themselves a better way forward to
25:55securing the Strait of Ormose.
25:56But actually, in the last few minutes, I've heard from EU sources that now EU leaders are reconsidering those conclusions
26:01and they want to restart the discussion on Iran, not just Iran, but the overflow into Lebanon and the wider
26:08Middle East,
26:08in particular, taking into account those skyrocketing oil and gas prices.
26:13And so we don't know exactly what they want to change in the conclusions,
26:16but certainly a lot of them are feeling that they really aren't punchy enough.
26:19And also taking into account that this war, it's coming into three weeks now at this point,
26:24but it's not nearing an end.
26:26And also a lot of sources also saying to me that people are quite annoyed about EU leaders,
26:30member states are quite annoyed about the fact that they don't understand the objectives yet
26:34or the contours or the parameters of this conflict.
26:38Maria?
26:41And of course, the situation in Lebanon has escalated over the past few days
26:45and we'll bring you the latest, of course, on Euronews.
26:48And let's go now to Geneva because we are joined by Israel's ambassador to the United Nations.
26:53Sir, thank you so much for joining us on Euronews.
26:57Before we start, however, I want to play you this clip.
27:00Let's take a look.
27:01There are no alternative of international rules-based order
27:06because the alternative is the war in Ukraine.
27:10The alternative is unfair competition on trade.
27:14We will continue to ask for de-escalation.
27:16What we saw this morning happening over the last hours has a direct impact on the region,
27:24but also on Europe, not only in terms of security,
27:27but also in terms of rising prices that we see on energy sources that we are dependent on.
27:35The Iran's attacks on Qatar energy infrastructure create further chaos
27:41and it's clear that we need an exit from this war, not escalation.
27:46This is a very defining moment for the European Union
27:48and I think that we need to send a clear message to our citizens and the rest of the world
27:53that Europe is with multilateralism and is with international law
27:58and we are against this war.
28:03Ambassador, thank you so much for joining us.
28:05And let me go back to you because those are the comments from the head of the European Council,
28:09the head of the European Parliament, the top European diplomat,
28:12the Spanish Prime Minister, they say this war needs an exit
28:15and we are now seeing major escalation, having huge economic repercussions.
28:20This war needs an exit.
28:21You heard it yourself.
28:22How do you respond to that?
28:27We need diplomacy when it comes to Iran,
28:30but Iran with a terror regime that has been really dictating what's happening in the Middle East,
28:36sending money and arms to their proxies all over the Middle East,
28:40undermining even in Europe, terrorism that has been going on
28:44and developing their nuclear program.
28:49There's no time now anymore for diplomacy
28:52and we are winning the war in diminishing their military capabilities.
29:01And sir, when you say we are winning the war, what does that mean?
29:04What does victory mean in the eyes of Israel?
29:07Well, we have to take out their nuclear program.
29:10We have to get rid of their missile program.
29:13We have to stop their assistance sending money to the proxies.
29:18They sent $1 billion last year to Hezbollah and to the Houthis.
29:23They sent money and to Iraq and everyone else.
29:27And they have to stop terrorizing their own people.
29:30You know, now there is the Noruz festival in Iran.
29:34And the people there cannot go out freely and celebrate.
29:41But sir, you know, a few weeks ago I spoke with your foreign minister, Gideon Saar,
29:45who said ultimately it comes down to the Iranian people to decide who leads them.
29:48But Israel wants to create the conditions on the ground for regime change.
29:52What we're seeing now, however, is retaliation from Iran, a mess in the energy market.
29:57The regime is still in place, doubling down, and we're not seeing protests.
30:00So, again, I ask you, how are you winning the war?
30:03Well, the regime is weak.
30:06We have taken out their military leaders.
30:09And they are now really, I think, much weaker than they were three weeks ago.
30:18Their nuclear program cannot continue.
30:22Their missile program cannot continue.
30:23The people are there, have been suffering for so many years.
30:28And I think that we will see some change in Iran.
30:35What do you mean by that?
30:36We're going to see some changes in Iran.
30:38What do you mean by that?
30:39Well, it's about time that this regime is weakened in a way that the people there can say what they
30:47want,
30:48what they want for their own future.
30:50It's not up to Israel to decide what is their future.
30:53But definitely this regime of terror has really got to go.
31:01Okay, and I ask you, what do you mean by that?
31:03Because today, once again, we heard from the president of the U.S.
31:06giving a timeline that is at times erratic, saying this will end soon, no trips on the ground,
31:11and also saying the goals will be met, but it's unclear what it means for the U.S.,
31:15and also saying that Israel cannot hit energy fields in the Middle East.
31:20Do you see that as the U.S. now unhappy, calling you out?
31:28Yes, so, first of all, Maria, I'd like to tell you what happened just two days ago
31:33when the Iranians sent missiles on Jerusalem, and debris fell on the holy places in Jerusalem,
31:40on the Holy Sepulchre, on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and on the Temple Mount, the Kotel.
31:45And I don't hear the world calling out the Iranians for terrorizing Israel's civilians
31:50and terrorizing 12 countries in the Middle East.
31:54What about them shooting towards Europe, towards Cyprus, towards Turkey?
31:59Why do we not hear people say to Iran, stop terrorizing your own people, the region,
32:06stop trying to stop the oil going through the Hormuz Straits,
32:13doing these things that are terrorizing the world?
32:17It's about time that Iran stops their behavior, and we see a change there.
32:24So you say, why is the world not calling this out?
32:27Does that mean that you're alone, ultimately?
32:29We've seen today European leaders still saying this needs to stop this escalation.
32:33The Spanish Prime Minister is saying this war is illegal.
32:36Do you feel alone?
32:38No, we definitely do not feel alone.
32:40The United States and Israel is in this war together, and we have a lot of support internationally.
32:47We hear a lot of calls on diplomacy from the Europeans.
32:52I think this is not time for diplomacy.
32:54This is time to really end diplomacy and to start seeing a change in Iran.
33:03Well, Ambassador, thank you so much for joining us on Euronews today in this ongoing story,
33:09because as I say, the meeting here in Brussels, the 27 heads of states are gathering here,
33:14very much dominated by the situation in the Middle East.
33:17But that is also going to have economic repercussions on the European economy today.
33:21The ECB also warning that we could enter a period of stagflation, that is, low growth and high inflation.
33:27To debrief, we are joined by Enrico Letta, who, of course, is a former Italian Prime Minister,
33:32but also penned a very influential report about how to reboost the European economy.
33:39Mr. Letta, I've got to ask you, from an economic perspective, how worried are you?
33:44I'm very worried. I think what is happening is a disaster, is a disaster for today,
33:52but it's a disaster also for tomorrow, for the next weeks, for the next months.
33:57It is clear that there's an energy cost that is growing.
34:02There's big instability.
34:05And I think the recovery that we were expecting will be more difficult.
34:10So, yes, very much worried.
34:12I cannot hear.
34:16Is he speaking?
34:19Okay, well, Mr. Letta, I've got to ask you, on that point, of course, when you penned your report,
34:26you did point out a number of areas in which the European economy could become more agile.
34:31Do you worry, however, this very volatile situation is going to make it even harder to implement your report?
34:36The words of Mario Draghi to talk about a stronger European economy?
34:40Because we are seeing major disagreements on things like green policy.
34:44Should it be kept or should it go?
34:48The European Council that is taking place today and tomorrow is a European Council that has to take important decisions
34:55on competitiveness.
34:57It was supposed to be the European Council for competitiveness.
35:02And unfortunately, this incredible situation is changing everything.
35:06So, my hope is that the European Council will be able, in any case, to take all the important decisions
35:14to launch this plan.
35:16The name of the plan is One Europe, One Market, because it is clear that in this new situation, Europe
35:21has to be more united.
35:23We need to have more united, and at the same time, the European Union has to intervene immediately for the
35:31immediate consequences on cost of energy.
35:34But I repeat, what is important is not to under-evaluate the need, absolute need, to take structural decisions for
35:44the future of the European economy.
35:46And the agenda of this meeting, I hope, can be confirmed.
35:53When you say the Europeans are going to have to intervene, is that an intervention in the energy market?
35:59Is that an intervention that looks like the emergency measures that were introduced in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine?
36:05What kind of intervention are you referring to?
36:08It is clear that today, the only possible intervention is to lower the energy prices, reducing taxes, and with subsidies
36:18at the national level and at the European level.
36:21But this is for the immediate.
36:23What is important is that the European Union has to take the decisions to foster and integrate the single market,
36:31the economy, integrating financial markets, creating the energy union.
36:36One, the big difficulty today is also because we don't have energy union.
36:40We don't have interconnectivity completed at the European level.
36:46We don't have a united financial market.
36:49So we are confronted by structural problems and at the same time with an issue that is very congenital.
36:58So I think the European leaders, they have to intervene on both sides.
37:04It's immediate interventions to lower the cost of energy today, but they have to continue working on implementing the reports
37:13on how to strengthen European economy, integrating the single market, creating this plan, one Europe, one market.
37:20That is for the next months and next years.
37:23The main problem with Trump, you know, is Trump is setting the agenda every day in a different way.
37:30The European leaders, they have to be very, very focused on their own agenda that is fundamental.
37:39But I've got to be very honest at this point.
37:41Do you believe this European leadership is up to the task?
37:44Can Ursula von der Leyen get this job done?
37:46Emmanuel Macron, the German chancellor, because many would argue at this stage, your report came out two years ago.
37:52Dragan's report came out two years ago.
37:54It's all talk, no action.
37:56Yesterday, the European commission launched this plan EU inch for the so-called 28 regime for creating new companies and
38:07having a corporate law specifically simple for companies, for enterprises.
38:14And I think it is a good first step.
38:18It is clear that this council was supposed to be the one to implement the measure, the economic structural measures.
38:25And it is clear that if this council is totally kidnapped by the present crisis on the Hormuz,
38:34it is clear that the main damages for Europe are also damages related to the fact that Europe is not
38:41able to take the decisions
38:43that Europe has to take for the next and long term issues on structural.
38:48So I hope the leaders will be able to tackle the present crisis.
38:53But at the same time, they have to think on the structural problems Europe has.
38:58And they have to implement this plan, one Europe, one market.
39:02That was the reason of the meeting before the Iran crisis.
39:10And of course, thank you so much, Mr. Letta, for joining us.
39:14This meeting, the summit underway continues.
39:16You can catch the latest on Euronews on the focus, certainly on the energy impact of this war.
39:22Thank you so much for joining us and have a great night.
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