Brussels, March 09 (QNA) – The European Commission warned on Monday that war’s repercussions of the Middle East have become a tangible reality in Europe, amid rapidly rising energy prices and attacks on NATO bases in Cyprus.

President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, told EU ambassadors that the far-reaching consequences of this war are already raising existential questions, cautioning against the belief that Europe can isolate itself from global upheavals.

She described the idea that Europe can retreat from a turbulent world as completely wrong, urging the European Union to act more decisively to protect its interests and strengthen its role in addressing international challenges.

Oil prices surged on Monday, briefly reaching USD 120 per barrel, driven by the ongoing war and disruptions in navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. European gas prices also jumped by about 30 percent, though they remain below the levels recorded in 2022 following the outbreak of the Russia–Ukraine war. (QNA)