EU foreign ministers meet with Arab League – Peace process – EU press release/Non-UN document

EU Foreign Ministers: Relations with Russia and the Middle East peace process dominant themes

The main issues at the EU Foreign Ministers Council in Brussels were the preparations for the EU-Russia Summit and the Arab League's Middle East peace initiative

The General Affairs and External Relations Council held on 14 and 15 May was an occasion not only for EU foreign ministers to come together but also for the EU's defence and development ministers to hold talks in parallel.

The highlight of the meeting was the first joint session of EU foreign ministers and their Arab League colleagues to discuss the Middle East peace process.

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The Middle East peace process

For the first time EU foreign ministers met with representatives of the Arab League (AL) on the margins of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. The meeting was convened by the Council Presidency to enable the Arab League's new peace initiative to be discussed by all EU foreign ministers. The Arab League reaffirmed in Brussels its willingness in principle to conclude peace with Israel, pointing out that the Arab peace initiative offered a historically unique opportunity for peace and the normalization of relations between Israel and the Arab countries.

After the meeting Minister Steinmeier noted that the initiative represented a significant step forward for the Middle East peace process and emphasized that the European Union remained committed to work for peace in the region. What was important now, he added, was for the League to enter into a direct dialogue with Israel. Direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians also needed to be intensified. That was the only way that life for the Palestinians and security for Israel could be improved and political progress towards a two-state solution could become a real prospect.

Also in future, he noted, the European Union would use its close ties with both partners to move the peace process forward. Foreign Minister Livni of Israel had accordingly been invited to attend the next Foreign Ministers Council in June in Luxembourg.

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