Our delegation entailed several meetings with senior EU officials, including Helene Le Gal (Director for the Middle East and North Africa), and Sven Koopmans, EU’s Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process. We highlighted the urgency for a coordinated EU approach to hostage diplomacy and presented actionable proposals.

The delegation also met with the Permanent Representation of Germany and France to the EU, discussing the status of hostages and unlawfully detained individuals as well as the power of each member state to contribute to a determined EU strategy. These meetings provided the delegates and EU officials with critical insights on the issue of hostage-taking from national governments and fostered productive dialogue.

In discussions with MEPs at the European Parliament, Hostage Aid Worldwide and EU Watch put forward the idea of establishing a working group on hostages. We believe that a multi-layered strategy, in which the European Parliament is actively involved, is essential to effectively prioritising the pressing issue of hostage diplomacy.

The delegation also visited the Belgian Parliament, where they had the opportunity to meet Belgian MP Darya Safai. Safai shared her insights on countering hostage diplomacy on a national level, particularly regarding Iran. The consensus was that stronger cooperation was needed between the EU and its member states.

The closing event in the European Parliament “Building a unified front: Where is the EU’s strategy against hostage-taking?”, with opening remarks from MEP Andrey Kovatchev (EPP), provided a platform for former hostages and family members to share their stories. This event was envisioned as kickstarting a broader discussion among EU decision-makers on hostage diplomacy and the EU’s role.