Crown Prince of Jordan and European leaders discuss energy crisis caused by Hormuz blockade

Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan attended a European leaders meeting in Croatia to discuss the energy crisis stemming from Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The MED9 group of European countries, including Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain, were addressing the concerns over the blockade and the potential restrictions on maritime passage in the Red Sea by Houthi forces.

French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the need to secure energy supplies, stabilize the Middle East, and prepare for the next European Council summit in Croatia. The meeting featured European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa, and Albert II of Monaco. The priority for the EU was to engage with US President and Iranian authorities to resolve the crisis and contribute to regional stability and security.

European heads of state, including Macron and Italy's Giorgia Meloni, anticipate lobbying EU institutions for additional funding to address the mounting discontent caused by high fuel prices. The G7 recently pledged to release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel to alleviate prices. Macron stated that while routes were opening up slowly, transport costs remained elevated.

Meanwhile, Yemen's Houthi rebels recently took control of the Bab Al Mandeb strait, Dhubab area, and the strategic port city of Mokha, having previously threatened to block passage to Saudi vessels. This development follows Iran's separate blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. European leaders are expected to advocate for alternative routes to Hormuz, such as the development of oil pipelines via Syria and the acceleration of the Great Sea Interconnector, a 1,300km subsea power cable connecting Greece, Cyprus, and Israel.

European concerns also extend to the EU's new measures to curb illegal migrant arrivals in the Southern Mediterranean, with the European Commission strengthening border controls in response to mass arrivals in Ceuta, Spain.