Mideast peace process at heart of 18 July session

Europolitics

Meeting in Council, on 18 July, the EU's 27 foreign ministers will concentrate on initiatives that could rekindle the Middle East peace process with the aim of achieving a negotiated solution for the coexistence of two states. However, after the failure of the Quartet (EU, Russia, United States and UN), on 11 July in Washington (see Europolitics4241), the outlook is very uncertain, particularly because the Arab League decided, on 14 July, to request recognition of the Palestinian state at the 66th United Nations General Assembly that will open on 13 September. The proposal could be tabled on 21 July, according to a well-informed source.

For now, "we are working together to win acceptance for an approach that would avoid a confrontation in September," explained a European diplomat, who said the discussions would concern the question of how the Union can bring the Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table. United behind this necessity, the 27 ministers do not intend at this stage to take a stance on the EU position on the Palestinian request (opposition, abstention or support). The clock is ticking, though, and the member states have different positions. Some are sceptical (around ten, including Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary), while others do not rule out the option of recognition (France, Ireland or even Sweden).

"We are still discussing whether or not it is advisable" to adopt conclusions on this subject, said the same diplomat, who added that the EU position "has not changed". Discouraging any unilateral initiative, the Union supports a negotiated solution on the "1967 borders" – namely the 1949 armistice lines – the status of Jerusalem, the refugee question and Israel's security.

Syria

In their conclusions on Syria, the 27 ministers are expected to step up their pressure on the regime, which continues its policy of violent repression of protests, but without declaring it illegitimate. Jerzy Buzek, president of the European Parliament, nevertheless explicitly stated that "the Syrian regime has lost all legitimacy," following his meeting with Syrian opposition representatives, on 13 July.

On Libya, apart from condemning the Gaddafi regime, the ministers will examine the questions of peaceful settlement of the crisis and the post-conflict period, in the wake of the meeting of the contact group on Libya, on 15 July in Istanbul, Turkey.

The Council will also adopt conclusions on Lebanon, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, will present a report on the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). The ministers will also review the question of European climate change diplomacy.