En la Declaración de Berlín de 26 de marzo de 1999 (que Yotam Feldner comenta aquí y Gerald M. Steinberg aquí) la Unión Europea expresa su apoyo al reconocimiento de un estado palestino independiente.
Intervención en el Parlamento Británico de la época (April 20, 1999).
También se habla de la Declaración de Sevilla de 21-22 junio de 2002 que contiene previsiones sobre la solución final del conflicto israelo-palestino:
DECLARATION ON THE MIDDLE EAST
The crisis in the Middle East has reached a dramatic turning point. Further escalation will render the situation uncontrollable. The parties on their own cannot find a solution. There is an urgent need for political action by the whole international community. The Quartet has a key role to play in starting a peace process.
The European Council supports the early convening of an international conference. That conference should address political and economic aspects as well as matters relating to security. It should confirm the parameters of the political solution and establish a realistic and well-defined timescale.
The European Council strongly condemns all terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians. The peace process and the stability of the region cannot be hostage to terrorism. The fight against terrorism must go on; but so at the same time must the negotiation of a political solution.
A settlement can be achieved through negotiation, and only through negotiation. The objective is an end to the occupation and the early establishment of a democratic, viable, peaceful and sovereign State of Palestine, on the basis of the 1967 borders, if necessary with minor adjustments agreed by the parties. The end result should be two States living side by side within secure and recognised borders enjoying normal relations with their neighbours. In this context, a fair solution should be found to the complex issue of Jerusalem, and a just, viable and agreed solution to the problem of the Palestinian refugees.
The reform of the Palestinian Authority is essential. The European Council expects the Palestinian Authority to make good its commitment to security reform, early elections and political and administrative reform. The European Union reaffirms its willingness to continue to assist in these reforms.
Military operations in the Occupied Territories must cease. Restrictions on the freedom of movement must be lifted. Walls will not bring peace.
The European Union stands ready to contribute fully to peace-building, as well as to the reconstruction of the Palestinian economy as an integral part of regional development.
The European Union will work with the parties and with its partners in the international community, especially with the United States in the framework of the Quartet, to pursue every opportunity for peace and for a decent future for all the people of the region.
Council conclusions on Middle East Peace Process (COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 3091st FOREIGN AFFAIRS Council meeting, Brussels, 23 May 2011):
The Council adopted the following conclusions:
"1. The fundamental changes across the Arab world have made the need for progress on the Middle East Peace Process all the more urgent. Recent events have indeed shown the necessity of heeding the legitimate aspirations of peoples in the region, including those of Palestinians for statehood, and of Israelis for security.
2. The EU is deeply concerned about the continuing stalemate in the Peace Process and calls for the urgent resumption of direct negotiations leading to a comprehensive solution on all tracks. Our goal remains a just and lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable State of Palestine, living side by side in peace and security and mutual recognition. A way must be found through negotiations to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of two States. Recalling the Berlin Declaration, the EU reiterates its readiness to recognize a Palestinian State when appropriate.
3. The EU believes that negotiations are the best way forward, if there is to be a lasting resolution to the conflict. The parties and the international community must contribute to the resumption of substantive talks as a matter of urgency, leading to a framework agreement by September 2011, as agreed by the parties and endorsed by the Quartet. In this regard the EU welcomes the recent consultations between the parties and the Quartet envoys.
4. The EU believes that clear parameters defining the basis for negotiations are key elements for a successful outcome, together with the avoiding of unilateral measures and acts on the ground which undermine confidence. The Council welcomes President Obama's speech which sets out important elements contributing to the resumption of negotiations. The EU has set out and will actively promote its position with regard to parameters in Council Conclusions of December 2009 and December 2010, and as expressed by the EU in the UN Security Council on 21 April 2011. On this basis, it looks forward to an early meeting of the Quartet Principals to take the process forward.
5. The EU supports the holding of an international donors' conference for the Palestinian State this June in Paris also in view of the resumption of negotiations.
6. The EU has consistently called for intra-Palestinian reconciliation behind President Mahmoud Abbas as an important element for the unity of a future Palestinian state and for reaching a two state solution. Reconciliation should also be in the long term interest of Israel by helping to engage all parties in a process leading to a sustainable peace agreement. The EU welcomes that Palestinian reconciliation has led to the cessation of rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip and insists on the need for a permanent truce. In this regard, the EU reiterates its call for the lifting of Gaza closure.
7. The Council hopes that this new context will favour without delay the unconditional release of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
8. The EU welcomes the agreement signed in Cairo on 3 May. The Council commends the successful mediation of the Egyptian authorities and encourages further efforts in support of the full implementation of the agreement. The EU welcomes that President Abbas, as Chairman of the PLO, will be the representative of the Palestinians in peace negotiations.
9. In this context, the EU stands ready to reactivate the EUBAM Rafah Mission, once political and security conditions allow, in order to ensure the EU third party role at the Rafah crossing point, as set out in the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access.
10. The EU looks forward to continuing its support, including through direct financial support, for a new Palestinian government composed of independent figures that commits to the principles set out in President Abbas' speech on 4 May. Such a government should uphold the principle of non-violence, and remain committed to achieving a two-state solution and to a negotiated peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict accepting previous agreements and obligations, including Israel’s legitimate right to exist. The EU's ongoing engagement with a new Palestinian government will be based on its adherence to these policies and commitments. The EU calls on the international community, Israel, and regional partners to work with the government on this basis. The EU also looks forward to the holding of elections.
11. The EU calls on Israel and the PA to continue their cooperation in all fields, including in terms of security and transfer of revenues and to abstain from measures that could hamper progress and further reforms.
12. The EU calls on the future Palestinian government to continue the PA’s institution-building efforts and to uphold current standards in terms of transparent and efficient public finance management, as consistently commended by the UN, the IMF and the World Bank, most recently during the AHLC meeting hosted by the High Representative on 13 April in Brussels. The EU welcomes the outcome of the reports which state that the PA is above the threshold for a functioning state in the key sectors studied. In this regard the EU expresses its full appreciation of the current Government’s success in implementing the state building plan
A diferencia de EEUU, los europeos nunca hablan del estado judío de Israel sino del estado de Israel.
EU urges 'early meeting' of Quartet to spur Mideast peace (Ahramonline, May 23, 2011) - La Unión Europea, dando la bienvenida el giro político sobre Oriente Medio de Obama, el 23 de mayo llama a una 'pronta reunión' del Cuarteto.
Conclusiones sobre Medio Oriente (COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 3058th FOREIGN AFFAIRS Council meeting, 13 december 2010, Brussels)
Background information on the European Union and the Middle East Peace Process(European Commission, 27 February 2009, Brussels) donde la UE expone sus posiciones sobre fronteras, asentamientos, etc.
Posición de la UE sobre Oriente Medio:
The Israeli-Palestinian peace process
The EU’s objective is a two-state solution with an independent, democratic, viable Palestinian state living side-by-side with Israel and its other neighbours.
EU positions on “final status issues”
Borders: the EU considers that the future Palestinian state will require secure and recognised borders. These should be based on a withdrawal from the territory occupied in 1967 with minor modifications mutually agreed, if necessary, in accordance with UNSC Resolutions 242, 338, 1397, 1402 and 1515 and the principles of the Madrid Process.
Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory: on 8 December 2008 the EU confirmed its deep concern about recent accelerated settlement expansion. This expansion prejudges the outcome of final status negotiations and threatens the viability of an agreed two-state solution. The EU considers that settlement building anywhere in the occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, is illegal under international law.
Jerusalem: the EU considers that the peace negotiations should include the resolution of all issues surrounding the status of Jerusalem. The EU supports institution building work in East Jerusalem, notably in the areas of health, education and the judiciary.
Palestinian refugees: the EU supports a just, viable and agreed solution on this question. We will respect an agreement reached between the two Parties on this point. Since 1971 the EU has been providing significant support to the work of agencies providing vital services to the Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). It is committed to adapting this support as appropriate, in pursuit of a just and equitable solution to the refugee issue.
Security: the EU condemns all acts of violence which cannot be allowed to impede progress towards peace. The EU recognises Israel’s right to protect its citizens from attacks, but emphasizes that the Israeli Government, in exercising this right, should act within international law. Since 2005, the EU has been involved in supporting the development of a democratic and professional Palestinian police force (see below).
EU policymaking from the “Venice Declaration” to the Annapolis process
The EU has set out its policy on the Middle East in a series of high level public statements. For example, the Venice Declaration of 1980 recognised the right to security and existence for all states in the region including Israel, and the need to fulfil the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. The Berlin Declaration of 1999 included anexplicit commitment to the creation of a Palestinian state. The Seville Declaration of June 2002introduced specific details of the final status solution, as set out above.
In June 2002, the EU co-sponsored the Roadmap for Peace, a three-stage process for achieving these objectives. The Roadmap emphasises the need for Palestinian institution-building and economic recovery with a view to enhancing the strength and viability of the future Palestinian state. This “state-building process” requires sustained engagement on the part of the international community. It also requires urgent improvement on issues related to freedom of movement in the occupied Palestinian territory. The EU has repeatedly called for the immediate freezing of settlement activities and the proactive dismantling of outposts as set out in the Roadmap.
From 2007 onwards, the EU actively supported the “Annapolisprocess” which committed the Israelis and the Palestinians to implement Roadmap obligations and to reach a peace agreement by the end of 2008. In November 2007: an EU Action Strategy for the Middle East Peace Process was tabled by Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner and High Representative Solana, setting out a range of ways in which the EU can support the peace process, and the conditions which are necessary for our support to be effective. (doc to be uploaded).
Unfortunately, although negotiations took place throughout 2008 in the framework of the “Annapolis process”, agreement could not be reached by the agreed deadline. In December 2008 EU Heads of State and Government made a statement stressing that a comprehensive peace in the Middle East remains a top priority for 2009; they praised the Arab Peace Initiative as a basis for regional peace; and called on the new US administration to engage from day one.
Recent statements on the Middle East
15 March 2010: Speech by HR Catherine Ashton: 'A Commitment to Peace - the European Union and the Middle East'
26 January 2009: Statement by EU Foreign Ministers on the Middle East Peace Process .
9 January 2009: UN Security Council Resolution 1860 , calling for an immediate ceasefire.
30 December 2008 EU Foreign Ministers discuss the Gaza crisis and set out three priorities for action: an immediate ceasefire; urgent humanitarian action for the people of Gaza; and a return to peace talks as soon as possible.
16 December 2008: UN Security Council Resolution 1850 is adopted in New York. This calls for the continuation of the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, for the implementation of Roadmap obligations, for Palestinian reconciliation and for support from the international community, including the possibility of an international conference in Moscow.
11 December 2008, European Council declaration stresses that progress towards comprehensive peace in the Middle East remains a urgent priority for 2009. The Declaration indicates that the EU will do everything practically and political possible in order to push for peace. It praises the Arab Peace Initiative and calls on the new US administration to engage from day one.
November 2007: an EU Action Strategy for the Middle East Peace Process is tabled by Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner and High Representative Solana. This document sets out the range of ways in which the EU can support the peace process, and the conditions which are necessary for our support to be effective.
A Decade of European Peace Building Efforts in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: 1991-2001 (Alison Lamont, 2001)