On Thursday 9 May, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, announced that Spain, Ireland and other EU Member States may recognise the State of Palestine in the next few days.
In an interview with Spanish radio station RNE, Mr Borrell confirmed the information published in the Irish media concerning this recognition, adding that the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, had told him that it could take place on 21 May.
According to the High Representative, Slovenia, whose government has just adopted a decree recognising the State of Palestine, could join the movement.
At the end of March, the Irish, Maltese, Spanish and Slovenian leaders announced in a joint statement that they had discussed their willingness to recognise Palestine “when it (could) make a positive contribution and the circumstances (are) right” (see EUROPE 13377/19).
On Friday 10 May, the High Representative noted the “crucial” vote earlier in the day at the United Nations General Assembly on the Palestinian application for UN membership.
One hundred and forty-three countries voted in favour, nine voted against and 25 abstained. EU Member States were divided on this vote, with Czechia and Hungary voting against, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Romania and Sweden abstaining, Austria, Finland, Malta and Slovakia not taking part in the vote and the others voting in favour.
“Palestine has received unequivocal support for its status as a Permanent Observer to be strengthened with additional rights and privileges”, emphasised Mr Borrell in a press release.
Despite the division in Europe, he recalled the Union’s long-standing commitment to a “just and comprehensive” resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, “based on the two-state solution, with the State of Israel and a State of Palestine”. The High Representative stressed that the EU would continue to resolutely support the construction of a Palestinian State and the strengthening of Palestinian institutions and their capacities with a view to the creation of a future State. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)