The European Commission will send Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica to Washington this week to attend the first formal meeting of President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace,” but stressed the EU is not joining the body as a member, officials said Monday.
Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier said Šuica will take part only in the “specific part” of Thursday’s meeting dedicated to Gaza and that the Commission’s involvement reflects the EU’s long-standing commitment to supporting implementation of the ceasefire and international efforts tied to reconstruction and post-war recovery in the territory, as reported by Reuters.
The Board of Peace, inaugurated by Trump in Davos in January, was initially conceived as a vehicle to oversee Gaza’s post-war transition and reconstruction but has since expanded its mandate toward broader conflict mediation, Euronews reported. The board’s first meeting is expected to include discussion of Gaza reconstruction pledges.
Euronews also reported that Italy, Romania, Greece and Cyprus have accepted invitations to participate as observers, while Hungary and Bulgaria have accepted invitations to sit as members, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expected to attend in person.
Sources close to the matter have told Euronews that the decision to attend meetings in Brussels shows that Brussels is not yet willing to completely cut ties with the Trump-led board, despite legal and political concerns in European countries.
Euronews also stated that Italy, Romania, Greece, and Cyprus have accepted their invitations to attend meetings of the board in their capacity as observers, while Hungary and Bulgaria have accepted their invitations to sit on the board as members, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expected to attend in person.
The EU is currently the biggest donor to Palestinians since the conflict started, with €1.65 billion in Team Europe humanitarian aid to the occupied Palestinian territory since October 7, 2023, according to the European Council.
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