Borders under pressure: Von der Leyen mobilises 'total diplomacy' to contain the effects of the war in Iran

With the Middle East plunged into a new conflict and the shadow of a humanitarian crisis growing, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has issued an urgent warning to European leaders: the EU must activate all diplomatic mechanisms and strategic partnerships to prevent instability from turning into an uncontrolled wave of migration towards Europe. In a letter to the 27 member states ahead of their meeting in Brussels, Von der Leyen stressed the need to collaborate with regional partners like Turkey, Lebanon, and Pakistan to mitigate potential migratory flows. She highlighted the precarious situation of four million Afghans in Iran and the displacement of over 800,000 people in Lebanon due to Israeli military operations against Hezbollah. The Commission President also called for constructive engagement with Syria regarding stabilisation and refugee returns, while noting that the EU is closely monitoring the Western Balkans and preparing a new Mediterranean Pact to manage migration.