Source: European Parliament
The European External Action Service and the Commission are currently carrying out preparatory work for the EU Strategy for the Middle East.
Given the huge shifts in the region over the last months, and the significant changes still occurring, the EU aims to avoid publishing a strategy which would become rapidly obsolete.
The EU aims first to finalise work on the New Pact for the Mediterranean, before pushing ahead with the strategy. The High Representative/Vice-President will be working very closely with the Commissioner for the Mediterranean and other members of the College in preparing the strategy.
The EU welcomed the Gaza Recovery, Reconstruction and Development Plan by the Arab states as a good basis for future cooperation.
The international community must work with the Palestinians to rebuild the Gaza strip. The EU firmly rejects any proposal to displace Palestinians from Gaza. The EU will work closely with its international partners and key players in the region to build on this initiative.
In the short-term, the EU’s priority remains a resumption of the ceasefire in Gaza, to allow the release of all the hostages, the restarting of humanitarian aid deliveries at scale to the people of Gaza and a permanent end to hostilities.