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EU Council conclusions on the Middle East
Peace Process
Summary: 14 May 2012, Brussels - Council of the European Union 3166th FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Council meeting conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process:
The Council adopted the following conclusions:
1. "The EU reaffirms its commitment to a two-state solution and its conviction that the ongoing
changes across the Arab world make the need for progress on the Middle East peace process all the
more urgent. Heeding the aspirations of the people in the region, including those of Palestinians for
statehood and those of Israelis for security is a crucial element for lasting peace, stability and
prosperity in the region.
2. Ending the conflict is a fundamental interest of the EU as well as of the parties themselves and
the wider region, and it can be achieved through a comprehensive peace agreement, based on the
relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, the Madrid principles including land for peace, the
Roadmap, the agreements previously reached by the parties and the Arab Peace Initiative. The EU
recalls the applicability of international humanitarian law in the occupied Palestinian territory,
including the applicability of the fourth Geneva Convention relative to the protection of civilians.
3. The EU welcomes the exchange of letters between the parties initiated on 17 April, following the
Quartet efforts facilitated by King Abdullah of Jordan and Foreign Minister Judeh and encourages
the parties to continue on this path. The EU welcomes Prime Minister Netanyahu's statement that
the new Israeli government will try to advance the peace process. It stands ready to support the
resumption of substantive negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians with a view to achieving
a two-state solution. The EU strongly urges both sides to build on the current contacts, including the
Joint Statement of 12 May, to resume direct negotiations on the basis of the Quartet statement of 23
September 2011. The EU fully supports the Quartet statement of 11 April and calls on the parties to
pursue actions conducive to an environment of confidence necessary to ensure meaningful
negotiations, to refrain from actions that undermine the credibility of the process and to prevent
incitement.
4. The EU and its Member States reiterate their fundamental commitment to the security of Israel,
including with regard to vital threats in the region. The EU is appalled by recurring rocket attacks
from Gaza and condemns in the strongest terms violence deliberately targeting civilians. The EU
reiterates its call on all partners in the region for the effective prevention of arms smuggling into
Gaza.
5. The viability of a two-state-solution must be maintained. The EU expresses deep concern about
developments on the ground, which threaten to make a two-state solution impossible:
- the marked acceleration of settlement construction following the end of the 2010 moratorium, the
recent decision of the government of Israel regarding the status of some settlements outposts as well
as the proposal to relocate settlers from Migron within the occupied Palestinian territory, while all
outposts erected since March 2001 should be dismantled, according to the Roadmap.
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- in East-Jerusalem the ongoing evictions and house demolitions, changes to the residency status of
Palestinians, the expansion of Givat Hamatos and Har Homa, and the prevention of peaceful
Palestinian cultural, economic, social or political activities.
- the worsening living conditions of the Palestinian population in Area C and serious limitations for
the PA to promote the economic development of Palestinian communities in Area C, as well as
plans of forced transfer of the Bedouin communities, in particular from the wider E1 area.
- the risk of jeopardising the major achievements of the Palestinian Authority in statebuilding if the
current financial difficulties are not addressed by a common effort of the PA, Israel and donors.
6. Concerning these developments, the EU reiterates its positions and determination to contribute to
maintaining the viability of the two-state-solution in accordance with international law and its
positions, including the conclusions of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in December 2009,
December 2010 and May 2011:
- Settlements remain illegal under international law, irrespective of recent decisions by the
government of Israel. The EU reiterates that it will not recognise any changes to the pre-1967
borders including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties.
The EU and its Member States reaffirm their commitment to fully and effectively implement
existing EU legislation and the bilateral arrangements applicable to settlement products. The
Council underlines the importance of the work being carried out together with the Commission in
this regard.
- The EU reiterates that a way must be found through negotiations to resolve the status of Jerusalem
as the future capital of two states. Until then, the EU calls for an equitable provision of resources
and investment to the city's population. The EU calls for the reopening of Palestinian institutions in
Jerusalem in accordance with the Roadmap.
- Social and economic developments in Area C are of critical importance for the viability of a future
Palestinian state, as Area C is its main land reserve. The EU calls upon Israel to meet its obligations
regarding the living conditions of the Palestinian population in Area C, including by accelerated
approval of Palestinian master plans, halting forced transfer of population and demolition of
Palestinian housing and infrastructure, simplifying administrative procedures to obtain building
permits, ensuring access to water and addressing humanitarian needs. The EU calls upon Israel to
work together with the PA to allow more access and control of the PA over Area C. The EU will
continue to provide financial assistance for Palestinian development in Area C and expects such
investment to be protected for future use. The EU will engage with the Government of Israel to
work out improved mechanisms for the implementation of the donor funded projects for the benefit
of the Palestinian population in Area C.
- The EU is the largest donor to the Palestinian Authority. It notes that the majority of the
Palestinian Authority's budget is met by its own customs and tax revenues and therefore it urges for
swift implementation of improvements, currently discussed between the parties, to the mechanism
by which these are collected and transferred, which should be transparent and predictable. The
European Union underlines that these transfers by Israel are an obligation under the Paris Protocol.
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The EU calls on the PA to continue pursuing reforms. The EU calls on other donors, especially
donors in the region, to increase their financial support to the Palestinian Authority.
7. The EU expresses deep concern regarding settler extremism and incitement by settlers in the
West Bank. The EU condemns continuous settler violence and deliberate provocations against
Palestinian civilians. It calls on the government of Israel to bring the perpetrators to justice and to
comply with its obligations under international law.
8. The EU remains committed to the Palestinian state building process, including through CSDP
missions and within the Quartet, aiming at a Palestinian state based on the rule of law and respect of
human rights. The EU is concerned about recent reports of arrests of journalists and underlines the
importance of freedom of expression, including via traditional and new media. In this regard, it
welcomes President Abbas' instructions to lift the ban on several websites, as indicated in the
official Palestinian communiqué. Recalling the Palestinian institutions' responsibility under the
Roadmap to end incitement, the EU expresses concern for recent incidents of incitement in
Palestinian media and elsewhere.
9. The European Union has consistently called for intra-Palestinian reconciliation behind President
Mahmoud Abbas, in line with the principles set out in his speech of 4 May 2011, as an important
element for the unity of a future Palestinian state and for reaching a two-state solution. In this
regard, it recalls its Council Conclusion in May 2011. The EU looks forward to the holding of
elections as an important contribution to Palestinian state-building.
10. Fully recognising Israel's legitimate security needs, the EU continues to call for the immediate,
sustained and unconditional opening of crossings for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial
goods and persons to and from the Gaza Strip, the situation of which is unsustainable as long as it
remains politically separated from the West Bank. Despite limited progress, the EU urges the
government of Israel to take further meaningful and far-reaching steps allowing for the
reconstruction and economic recovery of the Gaza Strip, including by allowing trade with the West
Bank and Israel."