Top EU, Mideast officials to meet Sunday
(BRUSSELS) - Top EU officials will meet this weekend with foreign ministers from Egypt and the Palestinian territories and a representative from Jordan, the bloc's Czech presidency announced Wednesday.
"Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg has called another meeting on the current developments in the Middle East, to take place on 15 March in Brussels," said a statement.
The EU will be represented by Schwarzenberg, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and an official from Sweden, which takes over the EU presidency from Prague in July.
"The objective of the dinner meeting is particularly the discussion of the current situation in Palestine and the role of Egypt in mediating the Middle East negotiations," the statement said.
Egypt has been mediating a lasting truce between Israel and Hamas in and around Gaza after the two sides declared ceasefires in January to end a brief war in which more than 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed.
Sporadic attacks have continued on both sides, however.
Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly called for better access to Gaza.
The European Union is the biggest donor of funds to the Palestinians, providing more than half a billion euros each year, but it holds little political influence over Israel.
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