Pittella on the EU foreign affairs Council: "We expected more; some light but still too many shadows"

Following the conclusions of the foreign affairs ministers meeting in Brussels this week, S&D Group president, Gianni Pittella, commented as follows on the crisis in Gaza and Iraq:

"We expected more, but what we have on the table is not yet enough. There is some light but there are still too many shadows.

"After weeks of calling for an extraordinary EU Council meeting on the ongoing international crisis, we expected more effective action from the ministers of foreign affairs.

"We support the call by some member states to respond positively to the request from the Kurdish regional authorities for military support. This is an important step forward to tackle the violence perpetrated by the so called ‘Islamic State’ (IS). Yet, unfortunately, this request only comes from some of the member states instead of being supported by coordinated and comprehensive EU action. 

"As far as the Gaza crisis is concerned, we support the most political message in the text of the conclusions: return to the status quo prior to the latest conflict is not an option in the Gaza Strip, with the explicit reference to the lifting of the Gaza closure regime, together with the disarming of all terrorist groups, including Hamas.

"We share the view that the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians cannot be separated from the situation in Gaza."

President Gianni Pittella continued by calling for more concrete action:

"The rest of the text is vague and mild. Instead of a call for full and immediate access for humanitarian aid to Gaza, the text calls for ‘an increased effort to facilitate.’

"Instead of promising a comprehensive EU initiative and plan, it says ‘the EU will develop options for effective and comprehensive action’.

"Instead of coming forward with concrete proposals on the role of the EU missions (EUBAM Rafah, EUPOL COPPS) in the area, it says that ‘the EU is ready to support a possible international mechanism endorsed by the UNSC’.

"Last but not least, the wording referred to the naval blockade remains too vague to be effective: ‘The EU will also study options for an internationally-supervised mechanism to enable full access and movement through all Gaza ports of entry.’"

He concluded by reiterating the latest S&D campaign:

"On this basis, we cannot say we are satisfied. Our campaign #EuwakeUp goes on."