Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The European Union institutions announced that the first-ever meeting of the high-level political dialogue between the European Union and Palestine will be held in Luxembourg on April 14, 2025. The meeting will discuss political issues and bilateral relations. This meeting will be preceded by discussions at the level of foreign ministers of the member states of the European Union to discuss several issues, most notably developments in the Middle East. According to a statement issued by the European Union institutions in Brussels about the European-Palestinian meeting, in the context of the political dialogue, the European Union and the Palestinian Authority will exchange views on the conflict in Gaza, the evolving situation in the West Bank, Israeli-Palestinian relations, and prospects for promoting the two-state solution.
The participants will then discuss bilateral relations, including the Palestinian Authority's ambitious reform agenda, and how the EU can best support it in this vital endeavor.
The meeting will be co-chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaya Kallas and Palestinian Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Mustafa. The Commission will be represented by Dubravka Suica, Commissioner for the Mediterranean, and Haja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management. On the eve of the political dialogue, a European statement was issued in Brussels regarding the latest developments in the Palestinian territories, stating: "The European Union deplores the collapse of the ceasefire in Gaza. The EU's priorities remain the resumption of the ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the restoration of widespread humanitarian access to Gaza.
The EU strongly condemns the killing of 15 humanitarian aid workers in Gaza on 23 March and calls for accountability. Too many Israelis and Palestinians have suffered, and the civilian death toll in Gaza is unacceptable.
The EU is deeply concerned by reports of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which indicate that food supplies delivered during the ceasefire are running out. Under international humanitarian law, humanitarian aid must reach civilians in need.
The EU reiterates its call on Israel to lift the blockade on Gaza to allow the resumption of large-scale humanitarian aid flows into and throughout the Strip.