European Council President Charles Michel has called for EU countries willing to recognise the State of Palestine to coordinate their efforts in order to make significant progress towards peace in the region. This move has gained traction since Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and Malta endorsed it last month. Michel suggested that other like-minded countries outside the bloc could also join the initiative. Coordinated recognition from member countries could give the EU more leverage to push for reforms that would make a two-state solution possible. This could involve using tools such as the EU-Israel Association Agreement to ensure compliance with international law and human rights.
The EU’s official position is that it will recognise a Palestinian state once it is established as part of a two-state solution. Nine EU member states already formally recognise the Palestinians’ right to statehood, including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Sweden. Michel believes that coordinated recognition could help urge Israel and the Palestinian Authority to conduct the necessary reforms for a peaceful resolution. The Association Agreement between the EU and Israel includes obligations for both parties to uphold human rights. Calls to review the agreement in light of Israel’s violations in Gaza have not been unanimously supported by all 27 member states.
The UN’s special rapporteur on Palestine has called for the EU to halt trade ties with Israel to deter war crimes that amount to genocide in Gaza. There is mounting international pressure for the US and Germany to suspend arms sales to Israel. Spain has led the push for recognition of a Palestinian state, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez indicating that Spain will move to recognise Palestine by July. Despite these efforts, some EU member states remain hesitant to back the move, highlighting the deep divisions within the bloc on the Middle East conflict.
The EU hopes to play a central role in future negotiations between Israel and Palestine, providing a roadmap and principles for a potential peace process. However, the EU’s credibility has been undermined by its inability to quickly forge unanimous positions on key issues, including calls for a ceasefire. While Michel acknowledged that the joint EU call for a ceasefire took too much time, he expressed confidence that there will be a moment when member states can coordinate to formally recognise Palestinian statehood. As EU leaders prepare to convene in Brussels, discussions on the situation in Gaza and the recognition of Palestine are expected to take place.
In conclusion, European Council President Charles Michel has called for EU countries to coordinate their efforts in recognising the State of Palestine in order to make progress towards peace in the region. Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and Malta have endorsed the move, with the support of other like-minded countries outside the bloc. The EU’s official position is that it will recognise a Palestinian state once established through a two-state solution. Calls to review the EU-Israel Association Agreement in light of human rights violations in Gaza have not been unanimously supported. The EU hopes to play a central role in future negotiations between Israel and Palestine, although its credibility has been challenged by the lack of unanimous positions on key issues. Despite divisions within the bloc, there is confidence that member states will find a moment to formally recognise Palestinian statehood.
