EU countries reiterate support for Middle East peace

Middle East peace process – Joint statement by Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom

New York, 18 December 2018

We, as the European Union members of the Council, would like to reiterate once more and emphasize the EU’s strong continued commitment to the internationally agreed parameters for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East based on international law, relevant UN resolutions and previous agreements. Any peace plan that fails to recognize these internationally agreed parameters would risk being condemned to failure.

The EU is truly convinced that the achievement of a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as the capital of both states, that meets Israeli and Palestinian security needs and Palestinian aspirations for statehood and sovereignty, ends the occupation and resolves all final status issues, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2334 and previous agreements, is the only viable and realistic way to end the conflict and to achieve just and lasting peace.

The EU will continue to work towards that end with both parties, and its regional and international partners. There is a pressing need for a political horizon to be restored. This is why the EU and its member states in past months have been so vocal in reconfirming their united, consolidated position in support for the two-state solution, with Jerusalem as the future capital of both states./.