The European Union participates in the US Peace Council meeting: Details
Brussels has officially announced that European Commissioner Dubravka Šuyić will travel to Washington to participate in the inaugural meeting of the “Peace Council,” a new body established by US President Donald Trump. This move comes amid firm European assurances that this participation does not, in any way, constitute formal EU membership in the council, but is limited to attending specific sessions concerning the humanitarian and political situation in the Gaza Strip.
A specific European mission in Washington
Soysta is scheduled to attend the meeting on Thursday, where Brussels aims to highlight the unified European position on the Gaza crisis and push for diplomatic solutions in line with international law. In this context, Guillaume Mercier, the European Union spokesperson, clarified that Soysta's participation would be limited to the "Gaza section" of the Council's agenda, emphasizing that the European Commission is not a member of the Council and will not be under the current circumstances.
Background of the “Peace Council” and the controversy surrounding it
The establishment of the “Peace Council” was an initiative of US President Donald Trump, who proposed it as an alternative or complement to traditional international bodies for conflict resolution. This council has sparked considerable controversy in global diplomatic circles, particularly due to the financial requirement that permanent members pay $1 billion to obtain membership. This requirement has led many observers and countries to express concerns that the body could become a “paid version” of the UN Security Council, where financial power might override international legitimacy.
European reservations and legitimate concerns
Despite participating in the meeting, the European Union still has fundamental questions about the nature of this council. The European Commission confirmed in a press briefing that it has a list of outstanding inquiries, primarily concerning the scope of application of the council's decisions, its governance mechanisms, and, most importantly, the extent to which the council's charter is compatible with the UN Charter and established international law. The EU maintains that any new peace mechanism must operate within the framework of international law, not as a replacement for it.
Political and international dimensions of the event
This participation is particularly significant given the current geopolitical shifts, as the European Union seeks to maintain open channels of communication with the new US administration while adhering to its diplomatic principles. Experts suggest that the EU's presence without formal membership reflects a strategy of "delicate balancing act." On the one hand, Europe does not want to isolate itself from major US-led conflict resolution initiatives, while on the other hand, it refuses to become involved in entities that could weaken the role of the United Nations or impose enormous financial burdens in exchange for political influence. The Council was initially established with the stated aim of ending the war in Gaza, but its charter grants it far broader powers, including the settlement of armed conflicts worldwide, which has heightened the caution of traditional international powers towards it.
