EU LEADERS have called on the Israeli authorities to extend a partial moratorium on the construction of new settlements in the occupied West Bank to facilitate progress in peace talks with the Palestinians.
In a statement issued after they discussed the EU’s strategic relations at a summit in Brussels, the leaders said the resumption of direct talks this month stood as a major step towards peace.
They called on Israel to take steps to make peace with its northern neighbours. “Peace in the Middle East should be comprehensive and reiterates the importance of negotiations on the Israeli-Syria and Israeli-Lebanon tracks.”
The US-brokered talks between Israel and the Palestinians face a key test at the end of this month when a 10-month Israeli suspension on the construction of new settlements is due to expire.
Amid anxiety that any failure to extend this measure could collapse the talks, EU leaders called on Israel not to go down that path.
“The EU recalls that settlements are illegal under international law and calls for an extension of the moratorium decided by Israel,” said the statement.
The leaders also said the EU “deems it indispensable that both parties observe calm and restraint and refrain from actions that could affect negatively the progress of the negotiations.”
They urged both parties “to uphold previous commitments and to strive to create an environment conducive to a successful outcome.” In a reference to Palestinian group Hamas, which is not a participant in the talks, the EU leaders renewed their demand for “a complete stop to all violence, in particular rocket fire and terrorist attacks.” They also called for a durable solution to the blockade of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, saying recent Israeli measures were an important step forward.
In addition, they called for full implementation and complementary measures to achieve a fundamental change of policy that allows for the reconstruction and economic recovery of Gaza.
They said the EU will spare no effort to support the US-led efforts for successful negotiations that lead to a framework agreement within one year, saying that this was in the interest of Israelis, Palestinians and other people right across the region.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin, present at the summit because of a discussion on the EU strategic partnerships, said the talks represented a “significant” moment for the Middle East.
“The opportunity should be grasped to try and develop a framework which involves of course a two-state solution.”
On the EU’s global links, Mr Martin said the prime focus was to develop a more detailed and informed partnership with major countries, “in particular China and India and others, and that the EU would co-ordinate its activities far more effectively in the future”.
“Trade would be a very significant factor in those relationships,” he added.
Opening the summit, European Council president Herman Van Rompuy told the leaders that the union is “punching below its weight” in global affairs. “We need more coherence and continuity in our action. We simply do not do enough strategic thinking. That must change. The Lisbon Treaty should help us doing that, but it is no panacea: the proof of the pudding is in its eating.”
The EU leaders agreed to endorse a proposal from foreign ministers for special trade concessions for Pakistan in the light of the flooding disaster there. They also asked foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to build closer ties with Nato in crisis management situations.
They also signed off on a free trade agreement with South Korea, a deal delayed last week due to Italian objections. Minister for Trade Billy Kelleher welcomed the initiative, saying Ireland’s exports to South Korea would benefit from the more liberal regime.