Vol. 538 No. 3
89 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has discussed the position in the Middle East with his European Union colleagues; if so, if they propose to take an initiative in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17804/01]
I discussed the situation in the Middle East with my EU colleagues at the meeting of the European Council in Gothenburg on 15 and 16 June. The Council gave its full support to the recommendations of the Mitchell report, which we believe provide the best basis for the resumption of the peace process. We welcomed the Palestinian-Israeli security plan, which commits the parties to end violence and the lifting of internal closures. The Council stated that it is essential to agree rapidly on the steps to be taken and on a timetable for their full implementation. The Council also called for a complete freezing of settlements activity. A cooling off period should start as soon as possible in order to allow for the implementation of additional confidence building measures and a resumption of full and meaningful final status negotiations on the basis of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.
EU High Representative Javier Solana presented a report on the role of the EU in supporting the peace process in the Middle East. The European Union will actively support the above initiatives, which are now at the centre of efforts to restore peace and resume negotiations on a comprehensive settlement.
The Middle East was also discussed at the EU-US summit on June 14, following which a joint statement on issues of mutual concern, including the Middle East peace process, was delivered.
Question No. 90 answered with Question No. 87.
