EU heads of state and government are concerned that a war in Iran could spark a migration crisis similar to the one the Union faced in 2015, which stemmed directly from the Syrian civil war. Although the Council’s conclusions, released shortly ago, state that the conflict in Iran “has not translated into immediate migratory flows toward the European Union,” the Council “stresses the importance of maintaining a high level of vigilance and ensuring the necessary level of preparedness, based on the tools and policies the EU has developed in recent years.”

Drawing on lessons from the 2015 migration crisis and seeking to avoid a repeat, the leaders say the EU is ready to fully deploy its diplomatic, legal, operational and financial instruments to prevent uncontrolled movements toward the Union and to safeguard security in Europe. External border security and control will continue to be strengthened, and the European Council emphasizes the importance of cooperating with regional partners to provide them with the assistance and support they need.