The Role of the EU in the Middle East Peace Process

Wednesday 24. June 19:00 - 21:58
Location: Vertretung der Europäischen Kommission in Deutschland, Berlin

 

Is the European Union capable to substantially contribute to a settlement of the Middle East conflict? What are the EU’s preconditions vis-à-vis the conflict parties to become further engaged in conflict resolution? Most importantly, however, does the EU have enough leverage to promote peace besides the efforts being undertaken by the Obama administration? The panel discussion which took place in the representation of the European Commission to Germany on Wednesday, June 24 addressed the EU’s changing role in the Middle East. The event which was hosted by the representation of the European Commission was co-organized by the Euro-Israeli Cooperation Platform (EICOP) of which DGAP’s International Forum of Strategic Thinking is a member.

The Head of the EC’s representation, Matthias Petschke, pointed out that the main tasks of the EU in the region were in the area of promoting dialogue among the conflict parties and delivering humanitarian assistance. A majority of Israeli citizens views such an approach favorably and 69 per cent of the population can even imagine a membership of the country in the EU, noted Dr. Lars Hänsel, head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s Jerusalem office. Hänsel who based his assessments on the results of a survey conducted earlier this year warned however that support were to dwindle if EU representatives opted for direct negotiations with Hamas. Such negotiations are neither possible nor acceptable without a clear and credible affirmation of Israel’s right to exist and the renouncement of anti-Israeli aspects in Hamas’ charter, stated Ilan Mor, the Deputy Ambassador of Israel to Germany. Yet, Mor concurred with the assessment of Muriel Asseburg (SWP) that the growing frustration of the Palestinian population with Fatah was a problem which might lead not only to an increase in Hamas supporters but also a declining part of the Palestinian population being in favor of peace talks with Israel. All panelists shared the conviction that the Palestinian side was in need of a delegation that would be able to speak for the Palestinian population in both, the Gaza strip and the West Bank. The Director General for Near and Middle Eastern Affairs of the Federal Foreign Office, Andreas Michaelis, therefore pointed to the common efforts by the EU and the new administration in Washington to garner support for a joint Palestinian interim government.