The EU states are struggling to find a line in Middle East policy. The demand for a ceasefire in Gaza is particularly causing disputes among the foreign ministers. Germany and other countries do not want to join.
The European Union wants to prevent the Middle East war from expanding, but disagrees about the means. At a meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg, countries including Spain, Slovenia and Ireland supported UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ calls for an immediate ceasefire. However, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and colleagues from countries such as Austria and the Czech Republic did not want to join.
Design for Summit declaration
On Thursday and Friday, EU heads of state and government will discuss the Middle East war in Brussels. The preliminary summit statement, obtained by several news agencies, said: “The European Council supports the call of United Nations Secretary-General Guterres for a humanitarian pause to allow safe access for humanitarian assistance and to ensure that the “Those in need of help can be reached.”
EU foreign policy chief Borrell is open to the initiative
The call for a ceasefire between Israel and the terrorist militia Hamas was loud on Saturday at an international Middle East summit in Cairo. UN Secretary General Guterres in particular called for this. Since then, there has been discussion in the EU about whether this demand should be accepted. Government politicians from countries such as Spain, Belgium and Ireland have recently taken a clear position in this direction.
EU Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell also appeared open to this initiative in the run-up to the EU Council meeting. “Personally, I think a humanitarian ceasefire is needed so that humanitarian aid can come in and be distributed.” This is urgent because around half of the more than two million residents of the Gaza Strip would have had to leave their homes in view of the expected Israeli ground offensive.
Baerbock: “Squaring the circle”
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, whose country is leading the Council of Ministers this semester, called in Luxembourg for Europeans to “speak with one voice” on this issue. Because there is no agreement among the member states. In addition to Austria, the Czech Republic and Latvia, Germany is also skeptical about the call for a ceasefire. The federal government fears that such a statement could be interpreted as questioning Israel’s right to self-defense.
Germany is therefore likely to push for the passage to be changed or deleted before the start of the EU summit. Federal Foreign Minister Baerbock made her position clear again at the meeting with her counterparts in Luxembourg. She spoke of “squaring the circle”: “We cannot contain the humanitarian catastrophe if the terrorism in Gaza continues like this,” she said, alluding to the attacks on Israel by the radical Islamic group Hamas. “There will only be peace and security for Israel and the Palestinians if terrorism is combated.”
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said: “We cannot tell Israel that it can no longer defend itself while Hamas fires rockets at its cities.” France, on the other hand, had previously signaled its approval of such a demand. President Emmanuel Macron is traveling to Israel on Tuesday to speak with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Disagreed right up to the top
Even among the top representatives of the European institutions there are disputes about the right course. EU Foreign Affairs Representative Borrell and EU Council President Charles Michel accused Ursula von der Leyen’s EU Commission of harming the EU’s interests in the region and exacerbating tensions and hatred with a course that was too Israel-friendly. The background was a declaration, which has since been withdrawn, to temporarily freeze development aid payments to the Palestinians.
On the other hand, there is criticism that EU Foreign Affairs Representative Borrell has discredited himself with his clear positioning as a possible mediator, as he is no longer an acceptable conversation partner for the Israelis.
How relevant is the EU?
There is a lot at stake for the EU in the discussions. “If we fail to speak with one voice, we will not be able to contribute to de-escalation in the region in the short or long term,” a senior EU official warned over the weekend. In general, it is about the EU’s claim to play a role as a bridge builder and peacemaker at the international level.
Is the EU’s credibility in danger? However, it currently seems unlikely that warnings like these will lead to a rapprochement. Behind closed doors, the group with countries like Spain is warning that too much support for Israel could damage the credibility of the EU as a defender of international law – especially if there are significantly more civilian victims in the coming weeks and months Gaza Strip should come.
Asselborn: USA is the only one contact person
According to Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jeans Asselborn, the EU will not play a significant role in mediating efforts to de-escalate the Middle East conflict. He has experienced for 20 years that the USA is the only relevant contact for both the Israelis and the Palestinians, said the longest-serving foreign minister on the sidelines of the deliberations in Luxembourg. You have to be realistic in this regard.