Roundtable of Working Group 8: Peace Supporting Package

Excellencies,

The European Union is honored to lead, together with our Arab League partners, the Peace Day Efforts.

By collaborating on the vision for the day after, we pave the way for it to become a reality.

As co-chair representing the EU, I will report on the contributions received and the working groups conclusions, highlighting three key measures that received positive feedback:

First, there is a clear need for a phased, conditional, and multidimensional actionable Peace Supporting Package.

This package would be implemented immediately after a negotiated two-state solution is agreed upon by the parties, grounded in international law.

Support for the Palestinian Authority is crucial.

The EU is already the largest assistance provider to the Palestinian Authority. I recently approved a €1.6 billion support package for 2025-2027, linked to structural reforms.

We provided concrete ideas to enhance our longstanding offer of unprecedented political, security, and economic support to both parties.

I am currently working to establish a Palestine Donors Group.

This group should serve as a forum to support the Palestinian Authoritys reform agenda.

A place for donors to monitor reforms and discuss the best ways to support the Palestinian Authority, as well as to pledge their financial aid.

It will also facilitate discussions on the recovery and reconstruction of Gaza.

Second, we need to develop a regional security architecture for the Middle East.

All necessary security guarantees must be provided to the parties.

These guarantees must consider sovereignty and the legitimate security concerns of Israel, which cannot and must not be overlooked.

Full respect for international law is essential, including international humanitarian law and human rights law.

Many Member States have mentioned the possibility of an OSCE-inspired regional security model or other regional integration initiatives.

Third, this conference must establish a follow-up mechanism to implement its agenda.

The Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution stands out as an existing mechanism, open to all and fit for purpose.

It already includes over 100 states and international organizations.

The EU and the League of Arab States are encouraging all states to actively participate in this Alliance.

It appears best suited to advance the important work initiated in the eight working groups.

Excellencies,

As a representative of the European Union, I must reiterate our unwavering commitment to both peace and the two-state solution.

We are already doing much to achieve these goals.

In simple terms, we are preventing the Palestinian Authority from financial collapse.

We have increased our engagement to reach a ceasefire and improve access for humanitarian support.

Regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza, we have established a framework to allow goods to enter Gaza and alleviate civilian suffering. However, the framework was only partially implemented due to the inability to distribute goods in a safe and organized manner. We expect Israel to cooperate to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.

We are fully committed to achieving lasting peace in the region and supporting the two-state solution in accordance with international law.

We envision Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders.

Thank you.

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Plenary session

Excellencies,

I commend the historic initiative of the United Nations General Assembly, under the co-chairmanship of France and Saudi Arabia, to convene this conference.

The European Union is fully committed to achieving lasting peace in the Middle East, our immediate neighborhood.

We support the two-state solution in accordance with international law.

We want to see Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders.

Let me first address the situation in Gaza.

Since the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel, the world has witnessed an unprecedented tragedy.

The European Union continues to call for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages, a swift flow of humanitarian aid, and the disarmament of Hamas.

We appreciate the mediation efforts from Egypt, the United States, and Qatar.

We are also taking action: only in 2025, the EU has committed €170 million in humanitarian assistance for Palestine. This brings the total EU humanitarian aid provided to €500 million since 2023.

Beyond funding, we have also transported humanitarian cargo through ReliefEU and supported medical evacuations through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

But this is not enough. An EU agreement with Israel on humanitarian access to Gaza was an important step, but it needs to be fully and swiftly implemented.

Israel should lift its blockade on Gaza.

We need more trucks, more crossing points, and more fuel. The security situation at border crossings must be guaranteed so that aid can enter and be distributed to those in need.

We need safe and unhindered distribution!

My second message is that we must support the Palestinian Authority:

The two-state solution can only be achieved with a reformed and revitalized Palestinian Authority.

We have been a long-term partner in delivering substantial support to the Palestinian Authority and its reform agenda.

I am pleased to inform you that the Palestinian Authority has already met key milestones.

This is a strong signal of commitment amid increasingly difficult conditions.

We welcome the announcement of presidential and general elections within a year across the Palestinian territory and the passage of the expected party law.

On my part, I am proud to state that the European Union will support the Palestinian Authority with €1.6 billion over the next three years.

In June, we already disbursed €202 million for food, salaries, and hospitals, linked to structural reforms.

Two weeks ago, the European Investment Bank approved €400 million in loans.

This will benefit Palestinian entrepreneurs and businesses in dire need of liquidity.

But the needs are vast. We need to do more.

I urge all of you to join our efforts in providing reform-based and substantial support to the Palestinian Authority.

To facilitate this, I am working to establish a Palestine Donors Group within the coming months.

This group will allow the Palestinian Authority to present its reform progress to donors and coordinate financial support.

When discussing support for the Palestinian Authority, Israeli cooperation is crucial.

The release of withheld funds and the regular transfer of clearance revenues by Israel is imperative.

Without these urgent payments, the Palestinian Authority risks paralysis within months.

We will continue to work with Israel on this matter.

We also need to look ahead and consider reconstruction:

We are ready to provide further assistance when conditions are met and welcome efforts toward the Arab Plan for Gaza Reconstruction.

We stand ready to facilitate discussions on the day after the ceasefire, particularly within the context of the mentioned Palestine Donors Group, contributing to all issues of security, stability, governance, and supporting the Palestinian Authoritys role in Gaza.

Let me reiterate: The only viable solution is political and is the two-state solution.

It must be upheld, and the European Union is taking concrete steps to prevent any undermining actions.

Recognition of a Palestinian State is not solely the prerogative of the EU but of its Member States, but we will continue to support the PA in its ambition to exercise the abilities of a State.

There must be no impunity for settlers violence against Palestinian civilians.

We have sanctioned violent settlers twice and are examining a third package of sanctions.

Alongside a Palestinian State, we need a secure state of Israel.

There can be no compromise on this.

Terrorism must not prevail.

Hamas must be fully disarmed and cannot be part of any solution in Gaza.

The European Union has welcomed the Abraham Accords as a positive development for regional stability and cooperation; they contribute to Israels security.

Concrete commitments to regional integration and the regional security architecture are part of the unprecedented peace package that the European Union and the Arab League have co-chaired in this conference.

Civil society must be fully involved as it plays a fundamental role in shaping a new narrative, fighting incitement, and promoting dialogue. We also need to amplify womens voices. The EU is working to support these efforts.

This conference is about taking concrete steps forward.

In fact, there is already a follow-up mechanism in place to implement the concrete action agenda – the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.

We should mandate the Global Alliance to do so.

The European Union remains available and ready, as a neighbor and major partner to both Israel and the Palestinian Authority, to actively work towards ending the conflict and achieving the Two-State Solution.

Thank you.