The EU and the Middle East

The European Union's relations with the Middle East

EU speeds up aid for Palestinians — 15 January 2013, 22:12 CET

The European Union said Tuesday it was speeding up disbursement of aid to help ensure there is no interruption in its support for the Palestinian Authority and UN refugee programmes.

EU to propose peace plan after Israel vote: report — 13 January 2013, 23:23 CET

The European Union is drawing up a detailed new plan to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, and expects to present it after this month's Israeli general election, Yediot Aharonot reported Sunday.

Spanish satellite operator drops Iran state TV: report — 22 December 2012, 23:31 CET

Spanish satellite operator Hispasat has dropped broadcasts by two of Iranian state broadcaster IRIB's channels because of EU sanctions against its chief, the Mehr news agency reported on Saturday.

EU, Russia say new settlements are 'obstacle to peace' — 21 December 2012, 19:26 CET

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday issued a rare and strong joint condemnation of Israeli plans to massively expand settlements.

EU tightens noose on Iran with new sanctions — 21 December 2012, 19:25 CET

The EU has agreed new sanctions against Iran, adding 18 companies or institutions and one person to a blacklist aimed at forcing stalled talks on Tehran's contested nuclear drive to resume.

EU condemns Israel settler plans as threat to peace process — 20 December 2012, 08:37 CET

The European Union said it "strongly opposed" the latest "extremely troubling" Israeli plans for more settler homes around Jerusalem which would only further undermine the peace process.

Iran slams Sakharov prize honours as 'political' — 16 December 2012, 21:51 CET

Iran on Sunday slammed the European Parliament for its "political" selection of two Iranian rights activists jailed in the Islamic republic for its prestigious Sakharov prize.

Sakharov prize honours those 'standing up for better Iran' — 12 December 2012, 21:34 CET

The European Parliament roundly condemned Iran as it awarded its prestigious Sakharov prize to lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh and film-maker Jafar Panahi, who are both detained back home.

EU's Jewish policy 'like 1930s': Israel's Lieberman — 11 December 2012, 22:03 CET

Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman criticised Europe on Tuesday, saying its treatment of the Jewish state was comparable to policies during the Holocaust.

Israel rejects EU outcry over new settlements — 10 December 2012, 22:09 CET

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday scoffed at international criticism of his plans to build settler housing on occupied land east of Jerusalem.

EU 'deeply dismayed' by Israeli settlements — 10 December 2012, 21:55 CET

The EU said Monday it is "deeply dismayed" by Israel's plans for new West Bank settlements, a move which threatens to undercut peace efforts that instead should be revived.

EU tells Israeli ambassador of concerns over settlements — 06 December 2012, 16:53 CET

The European Union called in Israel's ambassador on Thursday to express its concerns over his country's plans to build thousands of new settler homes in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

EU appeals for calm as Egypt clashes rage — 05 December 2012, 23:47 CET

The European Union's diplomatic chief called for "calm and restraint" Wednesday as supporters and opponents of Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi clashed over his decision to expand his powers.

Iranian opposition seeks Syria-style recognition — 05 December 2012, 21:30 CET

Iran's exiled opposition on Wednesday launched a campaign to have France and the European Union grant it the same recognition they have accorded to the Syrian coalition battling to overthrow Bashar al-Assad.

EU summons Israeli ambassador on settlement plan — 05 December 2012, 17:03 CET

The European Union said Wednesday it was summoning the Israeli ambassador over the government's plan to build thousands of new settler homes in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

Jailed Iran rights lawyer ends hunger strike — 05 December 2012, 11:43 CET

A prominent jailed Iranian human rights lawyer, Nasrin Sotoudeh, has ended a hunger strike in Tehran's notorious Evin prison after 49 days, according to a lawmaker on Wednesday.

Football: Drogba denies backing pro-Palestinian petition — 04 December 2012, 21:22 CET

Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba is the latest player to distance himself from a petition to UEFA denouncing awarding the European under-21 football championships to Israel.

EU says no sign of Israel axing settlement plans — 04 December 2012, 22:40 CET

The EU has yet to see any signs that Israel is planning to axe plans to build settler homes in a highly contentious strip of West Bank land near Jerusalem, despite huge pressure, a top official said Tuesday.

EU trade sanctions against Israel unlikely: Britain — 04 December 2012, 14:30 CET

The European Union is unlikely to use trade sanctions to punish Israel over its plans to build new settlements, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Tuesday.

Iran committee to probe rights lawyer's situation — 04 December 2012, 12:55 CET

An Iranian parliamentary committee will probe the situation of jailed rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who has been held in solitary confinement and is reportedly on a hunger strike, Iranian media reported Tuesday quoting a lawmaker.

EU 'diplomatic tsunami' over Israel settlement plans — 04 December 2012, 11:07 CET

Israel's premier faces a European "diplomatic tsunami" over controversial settlement plans as he heads to Germany this week, but also pressure at home to hew to his tough line ahead of January elections.

EU urges Israel to annul massive settlement plan — 02 December 2012, 18:48 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Sunday urged Israel to annul plans to build 3,000 new settler homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, saying it would be "an obstacle to peace".

European Parliament chief urges economic pressure on Egypt — 06 December 2012, 23:21 CET

The head of the European parliament on Saturday called for a cessation of the bloc's political and economic cooperation with Egypt following its Islamist president's move to expand his powers.

EU backs Palestinian state even if split on UN vote — 29 November 2012, 23:24 CET

The European Union reiterated the bloc's support for a Palestinian state Thursday despite splits between its 27 member states over granting upgraded status to the Palestinians at the United Nations.

Powers eye December talks with Iran in Turkey — 28 November 2012, 16:45 CET

World powers are proposing to Iran to hold their first round of talks in six months on Tehran's nuclear programme already in the first half of December in Istanbul, diplomatic sources say.