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Palestine–European Union relations

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Relations between the European Union and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) were established in 1975 as part of the Euro-Arab Dialogue.[1] The EU is a member of the Quartet and is the single largest donor of foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority.[2][3][4]

European Union–Palestine relations
Map indicating locations of European Union and Palestine

European Union
Palestine
International recognition of Israel and Palestine in Europe.
  Recognition of Israel and Palestine
  Recognition of Israel only
  Recognition of Palestine only
  Israel/Palestine

Fourteen out of twenty-seven EU member states recognise the State of Palestine. In 2014, Sweden became the first country to recognise Palestine while being an EU member state.[5] Malta and Cyprus had recognized Palestine prior to joining the EU, as did a number of Central European member states when they were allied with the Soviet Union. However, some of these states, particularly the Czech Republic and Hungary, have emerged as Israel's closest allies in Europe.[5][6] On 28 May 2024, Norway, Ireland and Spain recognized the State of Palestine, the latter two being EU member-states. On 4 June 2024, Slovenia recognised Palestine in an overwhelming vote, reflecting a common historical aspiration.[7]

Representation

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The EU maintains a representative office in Ramallah, accredited to the PNA.[8] The PLO's general delegation in Brussels, accredited to the EU,[9] was first established as an information and liaison bureau in September 1976.[10] Other representations are maintained in almost every European capital, many of which have been accorded full diplomatic status.[1] The EU's special envoy to the Middle East Peace Process is Sven Koopmans.[11]

In western Europe, Spain was the first country granting diplomatic status to a PLO representative, followed later by Portugal, Austria, France, Italy and Greece.[12]

Position on Israeli issues

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The EU has insisted that it will not recognise any changes to the 1967 borders other than those agreed between the parties. Israel's settlement program has therefore led to some tensions, and EU states consider these settlements illegal under international law.[13][14]

In 2008, during the French presidency of the Council, the European Union strived to increase cooperation with the US on Middle-Eastern issues, inter alia with a view to coordinating common pressures on Israel.[15]

The EU has also been highly critical of Israeli military actions in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon, often referring to them as "disproportionate" and "excessive force" and calling for an immediate cease-fire. During Operation Defensive Shield in 2002, the European Parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling for economic sanctions on Israel and an arms embargo on both parties. Following the Gaza War of 2008-2009, the European Parliament endorsed the Goldstone Report.[16] The EU has also been critical of Israel's Gaza blockade, referring to it as "collective punishment".[17]

Position on recognition

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Votes on membership (UNESCO) and status (UNGA) of Palestine[18]
Country UNESCO Vote UNGA Vote
  Austria Yes Yes
  Belgium Yes Yes
  Bulgaria Abstain Abstain
  Croatia Abstain Abstain
  Cyprus Yes Yes
  Czech Republic No No
  Denmark Abstain Yes
  Estonia Abstain Abstain
  Finland Yes Yes
  France Yes Yes
  Germany No Abstain
  Greece Yes Yes
  Hungary Abstain Abstain
  Ireland Yes Yes
  Italy Abstain Yes
  Latvia Abstain Abstain
  Lithuania No Abstain
  Luxembourg Yes Yes
  Malta Yes Yes
  Netherlands No Abstain
  Poland Abstain Abstain
  Portugal Abstain Yes
  Romania Abstain Abstain
  Slovakia Abstain Abstain
  Slovenia Yes Abstain
  Spain Yes Yes
  Sweden No Yes

The EU first endorsed the idea of Palestinian statehood in its 1999 Berlin Declaration. Before that, the EU and its predecessor, the EC, had since 1973 through various declarations legitimized Palestinian rights in the form of recognizing the Palestinians as "a people", the need for them to have a "homeland" and the freedom to exercise their "right to self-determination".[19]

In July 2009, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana called for the United Nations to recognise the Palestinian state by a set deadline even if a settlement had not been reached: "The mediator has to set the timetable. If the parties are not able to stick to it, then a solution backed by the international community should ... be put on the table. After a fixed deadline, a UN Security Council resolution ... would accept the Palestinian state as a full member of the UN, and set a calendar for implementation."[20]

In December, the Council of the European Union endorsed a set of conclusions on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict which forms the basis of present EU policy.[21] It reasserted the objective of a two-state solution, and stressed that the union "will not recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties." It recalled that the EU "has never recognised the annexation of East Jerusalem" and that the State of Palestine must have its capital in Jerusalem.[22]

A year later, in December 2010, the Council reiterated these conclusions and announced its readiness, when appropriate, to recognise a Palestinian state, but encouraged a return to negotiations.[23] Eight of its 27 member states have recognised the State of Palestine.

In 2011, the Palestinian government called on the EU to recognise the State of Palestine in a United Nations resolution scheduled for 20 September. Mahmoud Abbas reiterated such calls in Brussels again in early 2018. EU member states grew divided over the issue. Some, including Spain, France and the United Kingdom, stated that they might recognise if talks did not progress, while others, including Germany and Italy, refused. Catherine Ashton said that the EU position would depend on the wording of the proposal.[24] At the end of August, Israel's defence minister Ehud Barak told Ashton that Israel was seeking to influence the wording: "It is very important that all the players come up with a text that will emphasise the quick return to negotiations, without an effort to impose pre-conditions on the sides."[25]

EU member states were divided in their vote on United Nations General Assembly resolution 67/19 in 2012, which recognized Palestine as a non-member observer state at the UN General Assembly. 14 member states voted for, 13 abstained and the Czech Republic voted against.[26]

In 2014, the European Union and the United States officially criticised Israel's settlement policies in East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians regard as their de jure capital, and warned against the further construction of Israeli homes on disputed land.[citation needed]

In December 2014, the European Parliament voted in favour of a non-binding resolution calling for the recognition of Palestinian statehood as part of a two-state solution and alongside the development of the peace process with 498 votes in favour, 88 against and 111 abstentions.[27][28] In recent years, many European parliaments including France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, Ireland and the United Kingdom have passed motions calling on their governments to recognize Palestine.[29]

On 9 December 2019, new EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said ministers "will deeply discuss the situation in the Middle East" when they meet again in Brussels on 20 January 2020. Ireland and Luxembourg are among a small group of countries that want the issue put on the agenda; in a letter to Borrell, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said that hopes for a two-state solution are "being dismantled piece by piece, day after day," and that it is time to consider recognizing Palestine as a state.[30]

 
Pro-Palestine protest in front of the European Commission's regional office in Barcelona, 11 October 2023

In October 2023, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell condemned the "barbaric and terrorist attack" by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. He accused Israel of breaking international law by imposing a total blockade of the Gaza Strip.[31] The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, condemned the indiscriminate attacks by Hamas on Israel, calling it "terrorism in its most despicable form" and saying "Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks".[32] Spain’s Minister of social rights Ione Belarra accused EU of "being complicit in Israel's war crimes".[33]

EU Palestine support

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The Palestinian news agency Maan reported in 2011, citing a senior official at the Palestinian Ministry of Planning, that the PA has received about US$20 billion in donor funds since the peace process began. It is estimated that the EU, including individual contributions by its members, has given €10 billion to the Palestinians since the peace process began in 1994. Economic assistance to the PA and the Palestinian people constitutes the EU’s highest per capita foreign aid program.[34] The current framework for EU engagement with Palestine[35] is the "2017-2020 – Towards a democratic and accountable Palestinian State"[36] which includes annual meetings to assess progress.[37] In October 2023, Ursula von der Leyen announced that EU humanitarian aid to Gaza would be tripled.[38] In July 2024, the European Commission announced loans and grants of €400 million to the Palestinian Authority as a measure to prevent its financial collapse.[39]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Allen, D. and Pijpers, A. (1984), p 44.
  2. ^ Irish Aid (17 December 2007). "Minister Kitt pledges additional assistance for Palestinians at Paris Donor Conference". Government of Ireland. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  3. ^ Agence France-Presse (17 November 2009). "Too early to recognise Palestinian state: Bildt". The Local. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  4. ^ Miller, Rory (15 April 2013). "Progress without Peace: Enhancing the EU's role in Science and Technology in the Palestinian Private Sector". Science & Diplomacy. 2 (2).
  5. ^ a b Persson, Anders (24 August 2015). "Sweden's Recognition of Palestine: A Possible Snowball Effect?". The Palestine-Israel Journal. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  6. ^ "Hungary blocks EU declaration on Israel-Palestine ceasefire". Euractiv. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Slovenia becomes latest European country to recognize a Palestinian state after parliamentary vote". ABC News. 4 June 2024.
  8. ^ Office of the European Union Representative West Bank and Gaza Strip. "The Role of the Office of the European Union Representative". European Union. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  9. ^ Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations. "Palestine Embassies, Missions, Delegations Abroad". Palestine Liberation Organisation. Archived from the original on 25 February 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  10. ^ Allen, D. & Pijpers, A. (1984). European foreign policy-making and the Arab-Israeli conflict. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. p. 69. ISBN 978-90-247-2965-4.
  11. ^ "New EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process appointed". EU. 29 April 2021.
  12. ^ Katz, J.E. (2001). "The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)". EretzYisroel. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  13. ^ "In Cairo speech, EU's Catherine Ashton very critical of Israeli policies". Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  14. ^ McCarthy, Rory (1 December 2009). "East Jerusalem should be Palestinian capital, says EU draft paper" – via www.theguardian.com.
  15. ^ Tsilla Hershco and Amos Schupak, France, the EU presidency and its implications for the Middle-East Archived 22 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine, The Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs, Volume 3 No 2, 19 July 2009, pp. 63-73
  16. ^ Phillips, Leigh (10 March 2010). "Despite heavy lobbying, EU parliament endorses Goldstone report". EUobserver. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  17. ^ "EU warns against 'collective punishment' in Gaza". Reuters. 29 October 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  18. ^ "Votes on membership (UNESCO) and status (UNGA) of Palestine" (PDF). iss.europa.eu. pp. 354–355. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  19. ^ Persson, Anders (2015). The EU and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict 1971-2013: In Pursuit of a Just Peace. Lanham: Lexington Books. p. 89. ISBN 978-0739192443.
  20. ^ Agence France-Presse (13 July 2009). "Israel rejects EU call for Palestinian state deadline". Hurriyet Daily News. Hurriyet Gazetecilik A.S. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  21. ^ Sadaka. "The EU and Israel" (PDF). p. 1. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  22. ^ Council of the European Union, "17218/09 (Presse 371)" (PDF), Press release, 2985th Council meeting on Foreign Affairs, Press Office, retrieved 2 August 2011
  23. ^ Council of the European Union, "17835/10 (Presse 346)" (PDF), Press release, 3058th Council meeting on Foreign Affairs, Press Office, retrieved 2 August 2011
  24. ^ Agence France-Presse (28 August 2011). "Palestinians see progress in EU stance on UN bid". France 24. Archived from the original on 29 August 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  25. ^ Keinon, Herb (28 August 2011). "Israel looks to influence text of PA statehood resolution". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 31 August 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  26. ^ "Why should the EU recognize the State of Palestine?". The New Federalist. 24 February 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  27. ^ Beaumont, Peter (17 December 2014). "EU parliament backs Palestinian state 'in principle'". theguardian.com. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  28. ^ "European Parliament passes watered-down Palestine resolution". EurActiv. 18 December 2014.
  29. ^ Gëzim Visoka; John Doyle; Edward Newman (12 September 2019). Routledge Handbook of State Recognition. Taylor & Francis. pp. 317–. ISBN 978-1-351-13173-5.
  30. ^ "EU to debate Mideast policy as 2-state solution hopes fade". Associated Press. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  31. ^ "Israel is acting against international law, says Borrell". Politico. 10 October 2023.
  32. ^ von der Leyen, Ursula [@vonderleyen] (7 October 2023). "I unequivocally condemn the attack carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israel. \ It is terrorism in its most despicable form. \ Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  33. ^ "Spanish minister suggests taking Israel to ICC for 'war crimes'". www.aa.com.tr. 16 October 2023.
  34. ^ Persson, Anders (2015). The EU and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, 1971-2013: In Pursuit of a Just Peace. Lanham: Lexington Books.
  35. ^ "European Development Partners and the Palestinian Authority launch the European Joint Strategy in support of Palestine". EU. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  36. ^ European Joint Strategy
  37. ^ "Palestinians and Europeans meet to find joint solutions to challenges facing Palestinian Development". EU. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  38. ^ "EU calls Gaza-war summit, triples aid to Palestinians". EUobserver. 15 October 2023.
  39. ^ "Fearing Palestinian Authority collapse, EU promises $435 mln in aid". Reuters. 19 July 2024.

Further reading

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The Office of the European Union Representative (West Bank and Gaza Strip, UNRWA)

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