EU High Representative Federica Mogherini stressed that “peace between Israel and Palestine is a top priority for the European Union and it will remain a top priority in our political agenda” following a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas today in Brussels. She reiterated the EU’s position on the Middle East peace process and its commitment to the two-state solution.

“We remain committed to a negotiated two-state solution that remains for us the only viable way to end the conflict and all claims. Our EU policy on this has not changed. We recognise changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem, only when agreed by the parties. Our position on Jerusalem as future capital of both states has not changed and we support Palestinian presence in East Jerusalem, both in political and financial terms,” said Mogherini.

She added: “I re-expressed to the President what I often express publicly, also recently, the strong European Union’s opposition to the Israeli settlement policy and demolitions of Palestinian-owned structures. The European Union considers settlements to be illegal under international law and this also has not changed in our policy.”

The two parties also discussed the changing international political environment and exchanged views and feedbacks on recent contacts with the new US administration.

High Representative Mogherini will attend the Summit of the Arab League to take place on 28-29 March in Jordan, where common positions between the European Union and the League of Arab States on many different issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, will be discussed.

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Statement

Press conference video

Quartet Report

Council conclusions on Middle East Peace Process (20-06-2016)

EEAS – The EU and the Middle East Peace Process

European Parliament – The EU and the Middle East peace process