The European Commission has officially confirmed it will participate in the inaugural meeting of the Peace Council, initiated by US President Donald Trump. Commissioner Dubravka Šuica will travel to Washington to represent the community's interests regarding the situation in the Gaza Strip. Brussels, however, firmly emphasizes that this presence is purely observational and does not signify the European Union's accession to the newly created body as a permanent member.

Observer Status

The European Union is not joining the Peace Council, but is merely delegating an observer to the inaugural meeting in Washington.

Dubravka Šuica's Mission

Commissioner Dubravka Šuica will travel to the USA on February 19th to present the EU's position concerning the Gaza Strip.

Competition for the UN

The initiative by Donald Trump has already gained the support of 19 countries and is seen as an alternative format to UN structures.

The European Commission has decided to send its representative to the first meeting of the Peace Council, which will take place this Thursday in Washington. The delegate will be Dubravka Šuica, who serves as Commissioner for the Mediterranean Region. This decision is of particular interest, as Donald Trump promotes his initiative as competitive with the UN, and the founding charter of the council has already been signed by 19 countries. The EU official's participation will be limited to issues concerning the stabilization of the situation in the Gaza Strip, which is a priority for the community's foreign policy. Transatlantic relations in the area of resolving conflicts in the Middle East have for decades been based on cooperation within the so-called Madrid Quartet, established in 2002, which includes the USA, the EU, Russia, and the UN.Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier, during a Monday press conference in Brussels, repeatedly stressed that Commissioner Šuica's presence is not equivalent to membership in the new structure. Brussels intends to use this forum solely to present its long-standing position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This approach reflects the cautious diplomatic strategy of the European Union, which seeks to maintain communication channels with the new American administration while not fully legitimizing bodies that could weaken the importance of the United Nations. Polish correspondent in Brussels, Katarzyna Szymańska-Borginon, also confirmed that observer status is a key element of this mission. 19 — countries have signed the founding charter of the new Peace Council Experts indicate that sending a high-ranking official to the USA is a signal of readiness for dialogue, but also a form of safeguarding Europe's influence in the Middle East. The Union is currently one of the largest donors of humanitarian aid to Gaza, which gives it the moral and political right to participate in talks about the future of this region, even if they take place in formats controversial to some member states. It is expected that during Thursday's visit, Šuica will meet with representatives of the American administration to discuss the details of Trump's peace plan in the context of EU standards of international law. „The EU will not become a member of this council. We are participating in this meeting solely as an observer to present our position on Gaza.” — Guillaume Mercier Dubravka Šuica, the former mayor of Dubrovnik, has for years been involved in EU demographic policy and relations with the southern neighborhood, making her a natural choice for the Washington mission.

Mentioned People

  • Dubravka Šuica — Croatian politician, EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean Region, envoy to the Washington summit.
  • Donald Trump — President of the USA, initiator and creator of the Peace Council intended to deal with international conflicts.
  • Guillaume Mercier — Spokesperson for the European Commission, who announced the decision on EU participation in the meeting.
  • Katarzyna Szymańska-Borginon — RMF FM correspondent in Brussels, reporting on the background of the Commission's decision.