EUROPEAN UNION
From AICbackground
AIC Country Profile: The European Union
‘The European Union is firmly committed to the objective of two States, Israel and a viable democratic Palestinian State, living side by side in peace and security in the framework of a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, as laid out in the road map...and in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, 1397, 1402 and 1515.’
-Europa.eu.int (EU official website)
‘We are going to be involved, whether you want us or not’ -Javier Solana, EU foreign policy chief in a statement towards Israel.
‘Terrorist attacks against Israel have no justification whatsoever. The EU strongly condemns all terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and recognizes Israel’s right to protect its citizens from such attacks in accordance with international law’ ‘At the same time the EU continues to call on Israel to withdraw its military forces, stop extra-judicial killings, lift closure and restrictions imposed on the Palestinian people, and to freeze settlement activities and dismantle settlements’ - Europa.eu.int (EU official website)
Members of the European Union include: (1951) ‘ Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands. (1973) ‘ Denmark, Ireland, United Kingdom. (1981) ‘ Greece and Portugal. (1986) ‘ Spain. (1995) ‘ Austria, Finland, Sweden. (2004) ‘ Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. A total of 25 nations, all on the European continent.
Today, the European Union encompasses the largest trading bloc in the world with the addition of ten new members, surpassing the United States as the largest trading entity on Earth. Ongoing negotiations strive for an EU constitution, common economic agenda, and a common foreign policy approach. While the latter has been difficult to accomplish, the EU presents a common and unified agenda towards the Middle East. Accordingly, the EU now insists on playing a central role in the most intractable problem of the past century: the Arab-Israeli and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts. One example of this unity is in UN resolutions concerning the Middle East in 2004, where the latest resolutions were negotiated for approval by all European countries as a whole and not by individual nations, a huge leap forward for the EU.
The importance of the European Union in the Middle East cannot be understated. The EU is Israel’s largest trading partner. That means that the EU is economically crucial to Israel. Israel cannot afford to ignore its largest trading partner. Furthermore, the EU is also the main economic partner of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. On the other track, Europe stands as the largest financial aid donor to Palestinian institutions and Palestinian people. Indeed, much of the day to day activity in the Palestinian territories is financed by aid totaling over one billion euros from the European Union. Much of the peace process itself has originated in Europe itself, with the groundbreaking Madrid conference (1991) in Spain, and the Oslo talks (secret negotiations between Israel and the PLO) occurring in Oslo, Norway in 1993. In addition to financial aid, the EU extends significant technical assistance to improving the lives of Palestinian people in the occupied territories.
The EU continues to exert its influence and efforts at achieving peace through the mechanism of the Road Map and Quartet for peace. The EU was significantly involved in drafting the Road Map for Peace, a document outlining the steps Israel and the Palestinian Authority must take in order to reach a comprehensive and lasting peace settlement. Furthermore, along with the USA, Russia, and UN, the EU is part of the four-member ‘Quartet’, created to oversee the implementation of the Road Map and join forces to achieve peace in the Middle East.
The European Union’s united stance vis a vis a final solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been stated clearly and definitively. - A two-state solution with a sovereign Palestinian state living side by side in peace and secure and recognized borders with Israel. - Peace based on UN resolutions such as 242 and 338. These resolutions implicitly recognize a two-state solution that is achieved by Israel forfeiting the land it gained in war in return for peace and a security. - A just and agreed to solution to the refugee problem, to Jerusalem’s status, and a safe and secure Israel.
The European Union continues to view the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem as occupied territory that will eventually encompass the borders of the future Palestinian state. They view the settlements built on land taken over in the 1967 war as illegal on the part of Israel and calls on Israel to dismantle the settlements. Moreover, the EU feels that negotiation is the only method of solving the conflict. Negotiation without the use of violence, which only harms future prospects for peace and prosperity. It is through negotiation that the parties involved will eventually accomplish their goals.
The EU has real and direct interests in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East through a comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Javier Solana has made it one of his highest priorities to involve himself and the EU in negotiating between the two sides and bringing Israel and the Palestinians back to the table. Not only is this important for peace and stability for the Middle East and beyond, but it is a potential problem due to the growing Muslim population in Europe. Arab and Muslim immigration to Europe has created a new demographic reality, and created hostility towards Israel and growing anti-Semitism due to daily videos and news clips of Israeli soldiers using force against the Palestinian people. Furthermore, the EU sees a settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as diffusing a long standing excuse for Islamic fundamentalist terrorism aimed at the West. The EU also sees stability in the Middle East encouraging growth in the European and World economy, in addition to lifting Europe’s image among Muslims as it takes a central role in supporting peace.
As the European Union positions itself to be a central force on the world stage, it envisions itself taking central proactive role in major world affairs, rivaling the power and influence of the United States. A strong presence in the Middle East and a factor leading to peace would be a major achievement for the growing Union.
