Brussels, 08/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - The Foreign Affairs Council to meet on Monday (14 June), in Luxembourg, will seek to develop a joint EU initiative aimed at lifting the blockade of the Gaza Strip, Spain's Foreign Minister Angel Miguel Moratinos has announced. EU27 foreign ministers will discuss a plan for lifting the blockade imposed by Israel, in order to allow humanitarian aid to enter the country and to ensure the mobility of goods and people, Moratinos said in an interview on Spanish television. EU High Representative/Commission Vice-President Catherine Ashton, who will be chairing the Council, has placed the issue on the Council agenda, a spokeswoman has confirmed. Ashton is in close contact with the Spanish EU Presidency and all the other member states to see what the EU may do to facilitate the opening of the Gaza Strip, especially for humanitarian aid, she explained. The 27 member states are unanimous in calling for an immediate end to the blockade, the spokeswoman pointed out. A source from the Spanish Ministry for Foreign Affairs said in response to questions by EUROPE on Tuesday that the Spanish Presidency's idea was to obtain the opening of “three crossing points” (including the Rafah border crossing) from the Israelis. In exchange, the EU could send observers responsible for controlling the flow of aid, people and goods “in order to ensure that no arms are being trafficked to Gaza”, the same source explained, not ruling out the fact that the EU may do so “in cooperation with other countries of the region”. Last Sunday, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner had suggested that the EU take over control of the Rafah border crossing and of goods vessels seeking to reach Gaza. (H.B./transl.jl)