Nyköping, 07/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Ministers for Foreign Affairs, gathering informally in Nyköping, have analysed the role that the EU could play in the Middle East peace process alongside the United States, and asserted their desire to support the plan put forward by Egypt and Jordan. The debate was opened with briefs from the High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, and the Ministers for France, Hubert Védrine, Belgium, Louis Michel and Spain Josep Pique, concerning their recent talks in the region. The Ministers have, it seems, discussed at length the state of mind of the Palestinian and Israeli people, before discussing the different scenarios that the EU could follow to support the Egyptian-Jordanian plan, partly contested by Israel, but which is the only one presently on the table, underlined Javier Solana.
We are prepared to support all efforts for peace in the region, but it will all depend upon the desire shown by the parties to progress, commented the Council Presidency Anna Lindh. The Ministers have encouraged Javier Solana to present at the Gothenburg Summit a "roadmap" that will specify the path to follow by the EU, no doubt inline with the Egyptian-Jordanian plan. I am optimistic over the possibility for a compromise between the Member States, assured Javier Solana. At the same time, the Ministers raised the need to coordinate the European position with that of the United States. For the French Minister, Hubert Védrine, it requires a strong position from the Union and a strong position from the United States, to converge towards a position that has weight. The Belgian Minister Louis Michel felt that the Bush Administration seems as involved as the Bush Administration in the peace process, but seems less possessive, which leaves a margin for the EU to play its part in the region. However, he noted, the EU must manage the "credibility of its neutrality" and avoid judging one or the other, and keep itself to adopting a ridged position towards Israel over the problem of the rule of origin, as this risks "being interpreted by one or other as a political stance that would disqualify Europe as a partner in the process. However, all the Ministers do not share this position. The Finn Erkki Tuomioja, for example, hoped "without much hope" that the EU would place greater pressure on Israel over the rules of origin. The Dane Mogens Lykketoft insisted on his side over the need to clearly condemn the policy of Israeli colonisation, stigmatised in the "Mitchell Committee" report. The tone of the talks was "lucid and pessimist, but let us not lower our guard", summarised the French Minister, Hubert Védrine.