The 27 will meet from this Thursday afternoon, October 26, until tomorrow in Brussels. For this penultimate European Council of the year, the agenda is busy given the very dense international context. Among the big issues: the situation in the Middle East, without forgetting the war in Ukraine. Europeans must strive to display unity. But it might be tricky to find.
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Among those who plead for a “ humanitarian ceasefire ” in Gaza, like Ireland, those who firmly support Israel, like Austria or the Czech Republic, or those who, like Germany, call for the establishment of “ humanitarian windows », the palette is wide.
At the start of the week, the 27 foreign ministers, meeting in Luxembourg, failed to agree on a common position. Discussions in Brussels are likely to be just as tedious.
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Towards a humanitarian pause in Gaza?
“ The challenge will be to reach a common position between all the Member States », concedes a French diplomatic source. Returning from the Middle East, Emmanuel Macron will call for a “ humanitarian break » to encourage the arrival of aid in the Gaza Strip, besieged by the Israeli army. The French president will also have the opportunity to clarify his idea, mentioned during his trip, of an anti-Hamas coalition.
Another issue on which Europe has managed, until now, to remain more united: it is Ukraine. But flaws could appear. The statements of the brand new Slovak Prime Minister will be particularly awaited. Robert Ficoappointed on October 25 for a four-year term, committed during the electoral campaign to putting an end to his country’s aid to Ukraine.
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