EU Must be Interim Supervisor for the Middle East

Volker Perthes, SWP | August 27, 2008

Before the new US administration is approved and in full operation, there will be a pause in early 2009 in US involvement in the Middle East. ++ Even though EU cannot complete the job for the US, it can act as a trustee to keep the peace processes alive. ++ EU should offer Javier Solana as an interim mediator for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. ++ As an active trustee, the EU could show its diplomatic capabilities, its consideration of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a high priority, and the importance of trans-Atlantic cooperation.