BICOM

The European Union has not yet decided whether to support the planned Palestinian push for recognition of a unilaterally declared Palestinian state at the United Nations, which is set to commence on 20 September. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said yesterday that member states have not yet discussed the issue, because no resolution on this subject has yet been tabled before the UN General Assembly. Ashton said, however, that the EU was united on what she termed the ‘most critical issue’ – namely, the need to get talks between the Israeli and Palestinian sides moving. Ashton also reaffirmed her support for a two state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Today and tomorrow the Polish Foreign Minister Rados³aw Sikorski and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton will host an informal meeting of the 27 European Union Foreign Ministers. The ministerial talks will likely include the Middle East peace process, particularly the Palestinian initiative envisaged during the September session of the UN General Assembly. EU foreign ministers may attempt to reach a unified position during the informal talks, the EU, however, remains divided on September with countries like Germany, Italy, Holland and the Czech Republic opposing a Palestinian unilateral move while others, like France and Britain, indicating they will wait to see the final resolution before making a decision on their vote.

The meeting is an annual event that this year will take place in Sopot, a small coastal Baltic resort of Poland, near Gdansk, according to the so-called “Gymnich” formula. Meetings according to the “Gymnich” formula are traditionally held during the six months of each successive EU Presidency, which is currently held by Poland. They are characterised by a free and in-depth exchange of views on issues of significance to EU external relations.