EU Parliament Fails to Agree on Joint Motion on Recognition of Palestine

Members of the European Parliament voting during the plenary session in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Photo: EPA

The Members of European Parliament (MEPs) failed on Tuesday to agree on a joint motion calling on EU member states to recognise the state of Palestine.

Instead they managed to reach a compromise on a resolution that peace talks should continue, EurActiv reports.

Social-Democrat, left-wing and Green MEPs had proposed motions for a symbolic vote on Wednesday to urge all EU member states to recognise the state of Palestine without conditions.

These moves follow a string of developments which signify the growing unrest of Europeans on the protracted peace process.

In October Sweden became the first western European state to recognise Palestine, while non-binding resolutions in favour of recognition were also passed by the legislatures of the UK, France, Ireland and Spain.

Some EU member states are increasingly frustrated with Israel's policy on settlements, which continue to be built on the territories claimed by Palestine.

However the largest and fourth largest parliamentary groups, respectively the European People's Party (EPP) and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) diverged in their opinion.

According to them recognition can only be part of a negotiated agreement with Israel.

As a result negotiators from EPP, Social-Democrats and ALDE agreed on a text which provides that the Parliament recognises in principle the state of Palestine, as well as the two-state solution and the advancement of the peace process.

MEPs will vote on the non-binding resolution on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the General Court of the European Union revoked the decision of the EU to keep the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on the list of terrorist organisations, the BBC reports.

The judges concluded that the decision to condemn Hamas had been based not on concrete examination of the group's activities, but on imputations from the press and the internet.

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