BRUSSELS, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of the European Union (EU) and Gulf countries have expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, calling for an immediate ceasefire, according to a joint statement issued here on Tuesday.

In the statement issued after the first summit between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which groups Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabi