US Edition'We Are Surprised': France on European Commission Presence at Board of Peace
France and several EU states argue the Commission's attendance without Council approval breaches EU law and risks endorsing a Board with a broad mandate and Trump as chairman.
- On Thursday, France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the European Commission sent Dubravka Suica to Washington without a mandate from the Council of the European Union.
- The board's charter makes no mention of Gaza and has been criticised for a global mandate and sidelining the United Nations, while the French government and member states including Slovenia argued foreign policy needs Council approval.
- Most governments opted to send diplomats or civil servants while the European Commission dispatched a political representative, leaving several capitals uncomfortable, as 14 of the EU's 27 member states sent diplomatic representatives to the Thursday meeting.
- Commission spokespeople defended Suica's attendance as part of efforts to support Gaza's recovery, while Pascal Confavreux, spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry, said Suica "will 'have to explain it when she returns'" and France will not participate until the board re-centres on Gaza.
- The UN estimates Gaza reconstruction will surpass $70b, while Trump is expected to announce more than $5b, raising legitimacy concerns as Palestine is not on the board.
15 Articles
15 Articles
France says EU lacked mandate to attend Trump's Board of Peace meeting
France said the European Commission had no mandate to represent member states at US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace in Washington, after its Mediterranean commissioner attended the gathering alongside representatives from more than 45 countries.
Josep Borrell lamented a world where "force seems to be the only reason" and who exercises it today is the US disproportionately.
Dubravka Suica came on behalf of the European Union
'We are surprised': France on European Commission presence at Board of Peace
"Regarding the European Commission and its participation, in reality we are surprised because it does not have a mandate from the Council to go and participate," said French Foreign Ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux
‘We are a player, not just a payer’: EU Commission defends attendance at Trump’s Peace Board
The European Commission says their presence at Donald Trump's Board of Peace is needed because they have invested heavily in Gaza - despite reported objections from France and Spain.
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