03/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - Europe speaks “with a single voice” on the Israeli military assault on the pro-Palestinian flotilla and is calling for an international inquiry to determine responsibilities, the spokeswoman for EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton said on Thursday. On Wednesday 2 June, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva passed a resolution calling for an international inquiry to be set up. There was, however, no coordination in the voting of the eight EU member states currently represented on the Council: Italy and the Netherlands voted against; France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Hungary and Slovakia abstained; and only Slovenia voted for the resolution. Despite this undeniable disharmony, Ashton still takes the view that there is unity among member states on this issue. When, at the start of the week, she called for a “prompt, full and impartial” international inquiry (see EUROPE 10150), Ashton was speaking on behalf of all 27 member states, her spokeswoman said. For the moment, the high representative is in contact with the various parties in order to “explore the best ways to conduct such an international inquiry,” the spokeswoman indicated. (H.B./transl.rt)