Mideast peace process/External agenda of Irish Presidency – EU press release (excerpts)/Non-UN document

Minister Cowen's presentation to the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee

Mr. Chairman, distinguished members of the Committee, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to be here with you this afternoon to present to you the external agenda of the Irish Presidency. I very much look forward to an exchange of views today and to ongoing exchanges with the Committee for the duration of the semester.

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You will be familiar therefore, with some of the key strategic themes that will inform our Presidency in the field of external relations.  Among these are support for effective multilateralism, the transatlantic relationship; human rights; the EU's relationship with Africa and the implementation of the Security Strategy. I welcome this opportunity to share with you in more detail our plans in these and other key areas.

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The implementation of the EU Security Strategy is high on our agenda. We have a clear mandate from the European Council in December and are concentrating on the issues identified as priorities by the Council; a comprehensive strategy on Bosnia, a strategy towards the Middle East region, the fight against terrorism and support for effective multilateralism.

Work on these issues has already started and I would be interested in sharing with you during the next six months how our work is progressing.

Let me turn from cross-cutting thematic priorities to our relationships with key bilateral partners.

Clearly, the transatlantic relationship and the EU-Russia relationship are absolutely central. We also need to continue to strengthen our partnerships with Asia and with Latin America. Developing a more comprehensive approach to the Middle East region as well as the pivotal issue of the Middle East Peace Process is an important priority. I also am keen to push Africa up the EU's agenda and to re-vitalise the Union's relations with the continent.

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The divisions over Iraq are now firmly in the past and the Union needs to ensure close and ongoing cooperation with the United States on the broad range of issues, both political and economic, that face us all. On the political side, cooperation on Iraq, the Middle East Peace Process and wider Middle East issues and Afghanistan will be particularly important.

As the Committee may be aware, I visited Israel and Egypt last week for discussions on the Middle East Peace Process. In Israel I met Prime Minister Sharon, Foreign Minister Shalom and Opposition Leader Shimon Peres. I also paid a courtesy call on President Katsav. All the meetings were conducted in a cordial atmosphere. I reiterated the established positions of the European Union and our intention as Presidency to do everything possible to advance the peace process and revive the Roadmap.

While there was not a meeting of minds on every issue, there was a recognition that the status quo cannot continue and that progress must be made. I suggested that small, concrete and visible steps by both sides could serve to renew confidence and pave the way for high level negotiations.

In Egypt, I met President Mubarak, Foreign Minister Maher and Secretary General of the Arab League Moussa. The meetings were again extremely cordial and the Egyptian leadership shares our analysis of the situation and the need for progress.

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