Check against delivery! 

President, Honourable Members of the European Parliament,  

Thank you for the timely opportunity to discuss your report, and also to exchange views on our relations with the Palestinian Authority, also on behalf of the High Representative/Vice-President [Josep Borrell]. 

Let me start by updating you on the situation on the ground, which is of great concern.  

The security situation continues to deteriorate, leading to deplorable numbers of Palestinian and Israeli victims.  

This year alone, the number of Palestinians killed in confrontations with the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has more than doubled compared to the same period last year – to more than 130, including at least 22 children, in addition to five Palestinians killed and large-scale destruction of property by Israeli settlers. The number of Israelis killed by Palestinian perpetrators has also increased to 31, compared to 28 in the same period last year, with many more injured on both sides. 

We are also witnessing an alarming increase of demolitions, evictions, and settlement expansion, with around 13,000 new settlement units announced in the occupied West Bank [and] approved by Israel in the past six months alone, and new administrative procedures to expedite settlement expansion. We have urged Israel not to proceed with these measures, which are illegal under international law.  

All these developments only serve to fuel the cycle of violence that has accelerated to alarming levels in recent months. The European Union has reacted publicly on several occasions – including [on] the recent military operation in Jenin and terrorist attacks in Israel and the West Bank.  

It is clear that the only way to break out of this vicious cycle is a return to effective security cooperation between the Palestinian Authority and Israel. But we know from experience that the security track cannot be separated from the political track. Remote as it may look today, there is no viable alternative to the Two-state solution – and the longer it takes, the more difficult it will become.  

With this in mind, we are working through our EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process [Sven Koopmans], to revive peace efforts with regional partners, in particular Saudi Arabia and the League of Arab States.  

Now, I would like to turn to the title of this debate: our relations with the Palestinian Authority. 

Thirty years since its creation by the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority is facing unprecedented financial and political challenges.  

Financially, the Palestinian Authority is struggling to maintain its public finances and provide services to the population. We heard alarming messages at the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC), which the European Union hosted in May. 

The European Union remains the largest donor to the Palestinian people, with projects and interventions that cover almost all aspects of Palestinian life. These are in line with the Palestinian reform agenda and aim at promoting Palestinian state-building. In December 2022 – so, last December -the [European] Commission adopted its 2022 Annual Action Programme in favour of Palestine, for a total amount of €186 million. 

As part of our multi-annual support to [the] United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), our 2023 contribution of €82 million was frontloaded at the beginning of the year. 

Other donors need to step in as well, while the Palestinian Authority needs also to urgently continue its financial reforms to steer towards calmer waters. We recall that Israel also needs to respect signed agreements and take the necessary measures that would ease the Palestinians’ financial pressures. 

Politically, the Palestinian Authority is also facing internal challenges. We are witnessing increasingly negative trends as regards rule of law and fundamental freedoms in areas where the Palestinian Authority is in control, and in Gaza.  

A stronger and more credible Palestinian Authority as a partner is in everyone’s interest.  

This is why the European Union continues to urge to hold the overdue national elections as soon as possible. This is important for strengthening the legitimacy of the Palestinian Authority for the Palestinian people. 

In January, the High Representative/Vice-President invited Palestinian Prime Minister [Mohammad Shtayyeh] to the Foreign Affairs Council meeting. We agreed to establish a regular political dialogue at ministerial level. We are planning to have the first such dialogue with the Palestinian counterpart in the autumn.

We also agreed to work towards establishing Partnership Priorities between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority, in the context of the European Neighbourhood Policy. Both will be important steps forward in our political relations. 

Thank you very much and looking forward to the debate.  

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-243894  

Closing remarks  

Honourable President, Honourable Members, 

The debate today testifies to our continued interest in an engagement on the two-state solution and on a peaceful resolution of the conflict.  

The European Union is doing its part. Our commitment to the two-state solution has always translated into substantial financial support to strengthen the capacity of the Palestinian Authority and improve the social and economic conditions of Palestinian people, including refugees.  

The Palestinian people need a government that can govern effectively in all Palestinian territory and with full popular support. This also means giving Palestinian civil society, especially young people, more space and better participation in decision-making. 

At the current moment, however, it is crucial to prevent the violence from running out of control. All parties need to make an effort to de-escalate the situation, to prevent further loss of life, ensure accountability, and bring the perpetrators of crimes to justice. We urge the Palestinian Authority to do everything possible to condemn and stop terrorist attacks against Israelis, and to counter incitement to violence. At the same time, we urge Israel to translate its condemnation of settler terrorism into action and exercise restraint in its military operations and to respect International Law. All sides have the responsibility to engage and to create the conditions for a resolution of the conflict.

We will continue to work with all our partners and particularly together with Saudi Foreign Minister [Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud] and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States [Ahmed Aboul Gheit] to revive Middle East peace efforts by exploring a comprehensive regional peace approach. 

We are now actively working on accelerating this effort with the participation of our key partners. 

Once more, thank you, President and Members, for the opportunity to exchange on this very important matter. 

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-243896