Rome, 07/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - Italy's Minister for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini wants the negotiations for Middle East peace to be reinvigorated while Italy holds the Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers. “We believe there is space for some European Union action (…) to try and revive the talks for peace in the Middle East”, she told journalists - including from EUROPE - on Saturday 5 July. Underlining that Italy has historically good relations both with Israel and Palestine, Mogherini believed that her country could “help sustain effective action from the Commission” with the other member states. After the kidnapping and killing of three young Israelis and a Palestinian, Mogherini said it was “crucial to encourage a rational and calm reaction, and to try and resume talks”. In her view, the “clear” objective is to bring the negotiations to “positive and concrete results” which could be sent to public opinion in Israel and Palestine “in hopefully not such a long time as envisageable now”.
Libya is another priority for the Italian Presidency - and especially its related migratory issues. “How can we support the new government concretely to have effective control of its land?” Mogherini wondered. Italy would like a stable government to be set up and, once in place, for it to take the steps for the high commissioner for refugees to work there and determine whether or not migrants are eligible for asylum seeker status. Mogherini also spoke about Syria and the humanitarian aspect of the Syrian crisis. She hoped that Iraq would find a way to have a government recognised by all parties and that the country would stay united. Additionally, the EU needs to accompany the transition in Egypt.
Although the Italian Presidency is looking towards to the Mediterranean, Mogherini reiterated that Ukraine remains the priority issue for EU security. She is travelling to Ukraine on Monday 7 July and then to Russia. “One of our top priorities is to make sure the association agreement is a success story”, she said, stating that the Italian Presidency was going to help with implementation of the agreement. “We need to find a solution to the Ukrainian crisis and a way to envisage EU-Russia relations again”, she added.
The EU's relations with Asia, the transatlantic trade and investment partnership agreement (TTIP) and the need to agree on a common EU position on the post-2015 EU agenda (in connection with the millennium goals) are also priorities for the Italian Presidency.
In addition, Mogherini highlighted the enlargement process, announcing that she would travel to each candidate country. “In coordination with Commissioner [for Enlargement and European Neighourhood Policy Stefan] Füle, we will see all the steps that can be achieved during our presidency”, she said. “The efforts must be recognised in concrete steps”, she added. (CG)