On Wednesday 23 July, around 10 European Union countries called on the European Commission to take action in response to the dramatic deterioration in the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip (see EUROPE 13685/9).
According to a European diplomat, a report presented this morning to Member States’ ambassadors to the EU (Coreper) by the Commission on developments on the ground was deemed too superficial in view of the scale of the human suffering reported in recent days in the Palestinian enclave.
Several delegations insisted on quickly finding “a way forward”, said another diplomat.
With a view to a new Coreper meeting on Wednesday 30 July, these delegations have asked the European External Action Service (EEAS) to draw up a “concrete proposal” for the EU’s response to Israel on the basis of the options already proposed by EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas (see EUROPE 13679/13).
While France and Spain are among the countries that took a stand on Wednesday, others, such as Hungary, the Czech Republic, Germany and Italy, are reportedly adopting a more reserved stance in the discussions. (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)