EU countries have reacted mixedly to the recognition of a Palestinian state.
The decision to Ireland and Spain of officially recognizeWednesday, a Palestinian state, alongside Norwaycould lead to other declarations which would tip the balance of the European Union towards the supporters of the recognition of the territory.
However, Germany wants each country to make its own decision and the European Commission says it has no role to play in this process.
James Moran, a research associate at the Center for European Policy Studies (CEPS), a Brussels-based think tank, says it is likely that Belgium, Malta and Slovenia will follow the example of Ireland and Spain.
“If five other countries also recognize Palestine as a state, a majority of the 27 EU countries would be in favor“, he explains.
James Moran judges that the High Representative of the EU, Josep Borrell, could recall that a common position between the Member States must still be reached. However, for the researcher, the announcement from Dublin and Madrid is a “sign of movement towards a clearer political horizon for the Palestinians“and for all”serious future initiative on talks aimed at a two-state solution“.
But an EU foreign affairs spokesperson insists that “recognition (of Palestine) is not a competence of the EU, it is a decision of two member states and it is not up to us to comment on it“.
James Moran argues that today’s recognition should help restore “part of the credibility of the EU“with the Arab world, affirming that the reputation of the Union has”taken serious blows“over the last few months, due to the “perception of double standards” in relation to the Union’s position on Ukraine.
Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter, who condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, reacted on X by saying that Belgium should follow the example of Ireland and Spain.
Within the EU, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hungary, Malta, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden and the Czech Republic have already taken steps towards the recognition of a Palestinian state. Israel opposes such steps, believing that they “will fuel instability” and will hamper any prospect of peace in the Middle East.
Edouard Rodier, director general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, calls the announcement “symbolic gesture” was “long awaited“.
“It is also a concrete signal to the stronger party, Israel, as well as to the Palestinians, to make them understand that the current situation cannot continue. Equal status between the two sides is a step towards a peaceful settlement that we aspire to as humanitarians who now have to pick up the pieces after each new war“, explains Edouard Rodier.
Barry Andrews, Irish MEP (EPP), believes it is a day “historical“for Ireland and that the EU should now follow the Irish example”to have a chance of achieving peace and a two-state solution“.
“Recognition by Ireland alone will not immediately resolve the conflict. This is one step in a long process to recreate a political path to peace“, he adds.
Other EU countries also favor the two-state solution, although they have different views on how best to approach it. Some, like Germany and the Netherlands, believe that it must go through direct talks between Palestine and Israel.
German MEP Moritz Körner (Renew) criticizes the comments of the Social Democrats in Germany (SPD) who call for the recognition of a Palestinian state. “After Hamas brutally murdered, raped and kidnapped hundreds of people, SPD politicians want to recognize the Hamas state in response. What’s wrong ?“, he denounces.
With a more diplomatic position, the German Foreign Ministry specifies that “each country adopts its own position” On the question.
“An independent state for Palestine remains the goal of German foreign policy. A two-state solution would allow Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace, side by side“, adds the German spokesperson.
At Portugalthe new Prime Minister Luis Montenegro announced that the country wouldn’t go as far as Spain unless a concerted EU approach is put in place. He spoke following a visit by his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez to Lisbon to try to garner support for recognition of a Palestinian state, ahead of Wednesday’s announcements.