Prof. Dr. Frank Umbach at Phoenix: Mediating in the Middle East "The EU Has Lost Influence" Prof. Dr. Frank Umbach at Phoenix: Mediating in the Middle East "The EU Has Lost Influence"

In the phoenix vor Ort segment Prof. Dr. Frank Umbach explains that the EU’s ability to mediate the Middle East conflict has significantly declined. Europe lacks both the diplomatic clout and the military‑economic leverage needed to drive meaningful negotiations among regional actors. Instead, countries like the US, China, Turkey, or Qatar have stepped into the gap. Umbach highlights that internal disunity, disjointed sanction policies, and the absence of a strategic vision have marginalized the EU. The ongoing escalation in the region, he argues, starkly reveals the consequences of Europe's fragmented foreign policy—rendering it ineffective in peace initiatives and humanitarian action. He calls for a recalibration: only a unified and autonomous EU foreign policy can reclaim credibility on the international stage. Addressing these deficits, he warns, is essential to prevent further conflict, displacement, and radicalization.