By Lili Bayer and John Irish
BRUSSELS/PARIS (Reuters) -The European Union should maximise its influence in Gaza’s recovery process and join a U.S.-proposed “Board of Peace” intended to temporarily oversee governance of the enclave, the EU’s diplomatic arm said in a document seen by Reuters.
Israel and the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas carried out a hostage-prisoner exchange on Monday and a ceasefire is in force under the first phase of President Donald Trump’s 20-point initiative for Gaza after two years of war.
But important details of how to secure a lasting peace still have to be worked out, including on governance and security arrangements, and EU foreign ministers will meet in Luxembourg on Monday to discuss how Europe can contribute to Trump’s plan.
MORE CLARITY SOUGHT ON ELEMENTS OF TRUMP’S PLAN
“It is important to obtain more clarity on essential elements currently not fully elaborated, notably which role the Palestinians will have in post-war Gaza,” said the European External Action Service document, which assesses the plan and was circulated to diplomats this month.
“The EU should be a member of the future Board of Peace oversight body in order to influence strategic choices.”
The 27-member EU is among the largest financial backers of the Palestinian Authority, which is seeking a significant role in Gaza after being driven out by Hamas in 2007 but must enact reforms before it can assume power.
“The EU should maximise its leverage with a view to gaining more influence on the process through the variety of tools at its disposal,” the document said.
A 2025-27 EU funding programme sets aside 1.6 billion euros ($1.85 billion) for the PA and the Palestinian territories.
In the short term, the EU deems it could increase funding in Gaza, leverage civil protection assets and act as third-party monitoring as part of humanitarian aid efforts and “infrastructure rehabilitation”.
It could also use an existing mission known as EUBAM Rafah to provide a neutral third-party presence at the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, the document said.
ROLE SOUGHT ON ‘BOARD OF PEACE’
The Trump plan envisions a “Board of Peace” of international overseers led by Trump himself. The Gaza Strip would be placed under the temporary transitional governance of a “technocratic, apolitical” committee made up of Palestinians and international experts which would be overseen by the Board of Peace.
This group would set the framework – and handle funding – for the redevelopment of Gaza until the PA can assume power.
European and Arab officials say the plan lacks clarity on the PA’s role beyond the transitional phase and the time frame of this period, and on prospects for a Palestinian State, something that Israel has ruled out.
“The EU should aim to be a member of the Board of Peace oversight body. The EU could provide technical assistance to the technocratic Palestinian committee proposed in the Plan,” according to the EU assessment.
($1 = 0.8638 euros)
(Reporting by Lili Bayer and John Irish, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
