EU must play a bigger role in Middle-East peace process

Issued : Tuesday 9 March, 2010

Labour MEP briefs Buzek on recent visit to Gaza in advance of his meeting with Baroness Ashton

Nessa Childers MEP this morning met with Jerzy Buzek, the President of the European Parliament to brief him on the current political and humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Telling President Buzek that the new EU High Representative of Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Ashton should visit Gaza, the Labour MEP said: "In January, I visited Gaza as part of the largest political delegation ever to travel to the Strip. It consisted of 14 MEPs and 34 MPs from 13 countries.

"This morning's delegation of six MEPs emphasised that Baroness Ashton must go to Gaza and that the EU must act not only in terms of humanitarian aid but needs to play a bigger political role in the peace process.

"The people of Gaza need a strong voice and the EU should talk to all parties in the region. The EU also has an important role in helping to secure reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah and in ensuring that the siege of Gaza is lifted."

Nessa Childers welcomed the visit to the region last week by Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin. She explained: "Today, I reiterate my call for both Ireland and the EU to play a positive role in order to assist in providing the impetus to rekindle the stalled peace talks.

"Because of our own recent history, Ireland of all the EU states is almost uniquely familiar with the difficulties and challenges of facilitating the transition of a militant group down the path of politics. From my visit to Gaza, I also believe that there is a large and influential group within Hamas who are committed to fully embracing a peaceful and democratic path to a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders."

Today's delegation of MEPs was accompanied by Mazen Kahel and Arafat Shoukri, Chair of the European Campaign to End the siege of Gaza, an umbrella organisation of 30 NGOs across Europe.