Richard Bruton
Ceist:102 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the role he envisages for the EU in the ongoing Middle East peace process. [20973/99]
Written Answers. - Middle East Peace Process.
The European Union has an active role in encouraging and strengthening the Middle East Peace Process and has appointed a special envoy to assist in this.
The European Union affords political and economic support for a negotiated settlement in the Middle East, to reflect the principles of land for peace and ensure the security, both collective and individual, of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. It does so on the political level through public statements, its meetings with leaders of the various parties involved in the peace process, and its activities in relevant international organisations, in particular the United Nations.
On 13 September, the General Affairs Council in a statement welcoming the signature of the Sharm-el-Sheikh Memorandum reiterated the Union's readiness to be associated with the implementation of the agreement and, if the parties so wished, to contribute to issues to be dealt with under the resumed Final Status Negotiations.
The union is exploring with parties in and outside the region how, against the background of progress on the Palestinian Track, early progress can be achieved on the Multilateral, the Syrian and the Lebanese Tracks.
On the economic level, the European Union also provides significant financial and technical support. The Union and its member states are the largest donors of international aid to the region in support of the peace process. The Union also provides technical assistance in critically important areas such as water and refugees.
Although the European Union is not a participant at the talks currently taking place in Oslo between President Arafat and Prime Minister Barak, in which President Clinton is involved, we hope that the outcome of these talks will be to inject new momentum into the peace process. The European Union will continue to play an active role in this regard.