The European Commission officially announced its intention to participate in the work of the "Peace Council" established by US President Donald Trump, but only as an observer without formal membership. The European Union will be represented at these meetings by the Commissioner for Mediterranean Affairs, Dubravka Šuica, during the sessions scheduled to be held in the US capital, Washington, next Thursday, February 19.
The spokesperson for the European Commission, Guillaume Mercier, confirmed during a press conference held in Brussels that the European presence would focus primarily on the aspect related to the Gaza Strip within the meeting's agenda. He explained that this move comes as an expression of the European Union's firm commitment to supporting the stability of the ceasefire in the Strip and ensuring the implementation of understandings related to ending the conflict.
Despite this participation, the European Union expressed clear reservations and legal and administrative questions regarding the nature of the new council. Sources in the Commission indicated the need for further clarifications on the "scope of application" and the "governance" mechanisms followed, as well as the extent to which this new organization is compatible with the United Nations Charter and international legitimacy.
US President Donald Trump announced the establishment of the "Peace Council" in mid-January, as an executive tool linked to his proposed plan for the Gaza Strip. Although the UN Security Council welcomed its establishment through Resolution No. 2803 issued late last year, Trump's broad powers within the council, including the right of veto and the appointment of members, raised concerns that it was an attempt to bypass the traditional UN role.
The work of this council is based on the "Peace Plan" proposed by Trump in September 2025, which included twenty items aimed at ending military operations and disarming Palestinian factions in exchange for new security and political arrangements. These diplomatic moves come at a sensitive time, as the international community seeks to consolidate the foundations of the de-escalation that began last October after a long period of military escalation.
In a related context, political circles are monitoring the extent to which this council can make a real breakthrough in the file of reconstruction and a permanent political solution. With some field attacks continuing despite the ceasefire agreement, observers believe that European participation as an observer reflects Brussels' desire to remain close to decision-making centers while maintaining a legal distance that protects its diplomatic constants.
This participation does not mean EU membership in the Peace Council, but rather comes within the framework of our commitment to implementing the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
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European Union Decides to Participate as an Observer in the "Peace Council" in Washington