Debate on the Recognition of Palestine statehood during the EP plenary session in Strasbourg. Statement by Federica MOGHERINI, EC Vice President/EU High Representative

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Palestine (T)

ANDERSON, Martina (GUE/NGL, UK)

BROK, Elmar (EPP, DE)

MOGHERINI, Federica (IT, EC)

TANNOCK, Timothy Charles Ayrton (ECR, UK)

HOWITT, Richard (S&D, UK)

MAURA BARANDIARÁN, Fernando (ALDE, ES)

Recognition of Palestine statehood: statement by Federica MOGHERINI, EC Vice Presiden/EU High Representative and extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, EC Vice President/EU High Representative , "We are the first trade partner for Israel, and we are the first donor for the Palestinian authority. And we can be the first political player in the region to facilitate a dialogue that has to be a direct dialogue between the Israeli and the Palestinians and that it may be that for the first time really has the chance to become regional".

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, EC Vice President/EU High Representative, "You know very well that the recognition of a state is not within the competences of the EU, this is a competence, technically and politically, of the member states. But I would never say to you that 'this is not my businesses'. This is obviously, technically, not my businesses, but politically it is".

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, EC Vice President/EU High Representative, "I think that we need to share a vision, to share a common understanding of the situation, and also if we manage - and I think the EP can help me in that - to shape a common approach of national initiatives that would go on the same direction".

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, EC Vice President/EU High Representative, "Only if we send united messages as European Union in the region, our potential can be really used".

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, EC Vice President/EU High Representative, "I think it's right that we go into the details of what our historical position is, to remind ourselves what does it mean a 'Two States Solution', and with the right of Israel not only to exist, but to exist in security and safety and peace in the region, and with all the Palestinians, being them in West Bank in Jerusalem or in Gaza, having one, one, state finally".

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, EC Vice President/EU High Representative, "There is no way for having security if we do not also have a Palestinian state, there is no way of having a Palestinian state if we do not guarantee security, stability and peace also to the Israelis. That is the very same concept, the core of the efforts that the EU has always worked on. today it's probably more difficult than ever, but sometimes it is when it's more difficult that people around the table realize that a plus of political will and internal leadership is needed, and might make an effort in that direction".

SOUNDBITE (German), Elmar BROK (EPP, DE), "The aim is a Two State solution with a safe Israeli state and a viable Palestinian state side by side. And this is only possible on the basis of mutual recognition. As the High Representative has just made clear, the one requires the other, you can't recognise one thing until the other is recognised".

SOUNDBITE (English), Richard Stuart HOWITT (S&amp;D, UK), "Why should the EP act? Because there is impatience of the continued settlement building, and despair at the continuing death toll. Because as we've already heard from Ms Mogherini, the EU Foreign Ministers are discussing this and that there are merits to a common EU approach".

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), "I personally have deep concerns on whether this particular motion today for unilateral recognition of Palestine is indeed premature. The dual needs of mutual recognition and concrete security arrangements on the ground, which are at paramount importance in achieving peace, would not be addressed by EU member states granting immediate symbolic recognition to a flagging Palestinian state".

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Fernando MAURA BARANDIAR&#193;N (ALDE, ES), "The brave announcement by the Swedish Parliament about the recognition of the Palestinian state should be the start of a new wave of international recognition which we should support. We cannot continue to just pay with public resources for the reconstruction of this area every time there is a Palestinian-Israeli conflict".

SOUNDBITE (English), Martina ANDERSON (GUE/NGL, UK), "Those who claim that the Palestinian state recognition will negatively impact on future negotiations ignore the reality that 20 years of negotiations have advanced little and have reinforced the Israelis occupation which consistently undermines the Two States solution through settlement expansion and land confiscation".