Gothenburg, 18/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - The increased daily coordination and participation of the EU in the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee allowed the European Union to be more "present" and more "coherent" in the Middle East and to play a political role whose usefulness is "widely acknowledged and respected", one can read in the introduction of the report presented by Javier Solana to the European Council. Increased daily coordination is the appropriate response and must be "maintained and strengthened", stresses the EU High Representative for external policy. Participation in the Mitchell Commission - which was not acquired when the idea of this committee was launched - was a "privilege and a challenge" and allowed the EU to contribute to "setting out a framework of recommendations which all the relevant actors - starting with themselves - now see as the only credible 'roadmap' to the eventual resumption of peace talks".
The report stresses that peace and stability in the Middle East are part of the fundamental interests of the EU because of the geographic proximity and the risks that could be incurred in the event of prolonged instability in the region. For the future, it suggests that efforts be pursued to contain the violence, encourage the rapid implementation of the Mitchell report, support efforts of rapprochement between the parties (through NGOs in particular), put on the table the problems and discussions concerning the regional dimension (Syria, Lebanon …) and pursue economic and humanitarian aid to the Palestinian Authority while proceeding to global assessment of its needs. On this last point, the report stresses that the direct support that is given today is not a definitive remedy to the crisis of the Palestinian institutions. Its amount is below the total funds frozen by Israel since the crisis began. European aid will be quickly absorbed and it will then be necessary to discuss the situation again, states the report.
The European Council, in its conclusions on the Middle East, marked its support for the conclusions of the Mitchell Committee and invited Javier Solana to pursue his action (see our special edition of 17 June).