Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Global Power Europe - Vol. 2 pp 73–92Cite as

The European Union and the Question of Palestine’s Status in the United Nations

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 1461 Accesses

Part of the book series: Global Power Shift ((GLOBAL))

Abstract

The 66th and 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly (2011-2013) saw a quick evolution in the status of Palestine in the United Nations. After a failed application for full membership, Palestine’s request for the upgrade to “non-member observer state” was accepted. In reaction to the events, the discourses of both the EU and EU’s Member States coexisted in the international arena, presenting contrasting or complementary response proposals. Our hypothesis is that the highly contested nature of policies related to the Middle East Peace Process caused the inability to reach a common position among the 27 EU Member States, thus letting States free of pursuing their own agenda. A contrasting discursive trend, namely the Member States’ praise and support for the European Union’s role in the issue independently of the actual position proposed, is an indication of the approach that Member States pursue when it comes to the formulation of foreign policy, where the European arena is used as an enhancer of national policy but not necessarily as a constraint. How this is relevant for the “international actorness” of the European Union will be the object of our study.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Five interviews were conducted in Brussels, between April and June 2012, in the European institutions and at national permanent representations to the EU. Sources who asked to remain anonymous are identified as “EU diplomat”, the label is thus not an indication of the place of employment of the source. Some interviews were conducted in languages other than English and are presented here in the author’s translation.

  2. 2.

    “[…] the designation ‘Palestine’ should be used in place of the designation ‘Palestine Liberation Organization’ in the United Nations system, without prejudice to the observer status and functions of the Palestine Liberation Organization within the United Nations system […]” (A/RES/43/177 §3).

  3. 3.

    The wording of the resolution specifies that the status of non-member observer State is accorded to Palestine “without prejudice to the acquired rights, privileges and role of the Palestine Liberation Organization in the United Nations as the representative of the Palestinian people” (A/RES/67/19). The relevance lies in the use of the word “State”, although State recognition still remains a national prerogative, and in the possibility for Palestine to join UN agencies and other international bodies.

  4. 4.

    For a complete review of the literature on the subject see Béclard (forthcoming).

  5. 5.

    The High Representative is assisted by the newly created European External Action Service (EEAS) (Art 27.3).

  6. 6.

    The Quartet, including the EU, the US, the UN and Russia, was established with the aim of securing “a two-state solution, with two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace within secure and recognised borders” (Source: www.quartetrep.org).

  7. 7.

    At the moment of the interview Marc Otte no longer Special Representative; he was Director Policy Planning, Federal Public Service, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Belgium. The interview was conducted in French; all citations are the translation of the author.

  8. 8.

    For the instruments and information presented in this and following paragraphes, see relevant pages on http://eeas.europa.eu

  9. 9.

    The operation in Rafah has been suspended since 2007.

  10. 10.

    For an overview see http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/

  11. 11.

    See also Council of the European Union, 17738/10, Foreign Affairs Council of 13 December 2010; Council of the European Union, 15275/11, 10 October 2011; 13011/11, 18 July 2011; 5626/12, 23 January 2012; 9909/12, 14 may 2012. Additionally “EU positions on the Middle East peace process” http://eeas.europa.eu/mepp/eu-positions/eu_positions_en.htm

  12. 12.

    The study is based on a qualitative analysis of the wording of the speeches as delivered at the General Assembly 66th and 67th opening session, and following the vote for resolution 67/19. Although the content of the speeches is fairly different, the analysis focused mostly on three themes: reference to the situation of Palestine, or more specific reference to Palestine’s status in the UN; reference to the role of the EU in relation to the question of Palestine; reference to the role of the Quartet and its proposal or to a general need for negotiations among the parties. The analysis does not take into consideration national positions expressed elsewhere or at different times. The reason for this limitation is the interest in the message as delivered to the public in the UNGA.

  13. 13.

    Burke explains: “EU representatives have to identify when they are speaking on ‘behalf of the EU’ (implying that common institutions enjoy full competence over the matter), ‘on behalf of the EU and its member-states’ (in cases when common institutions share competence with national governments) or ‘on behalf of the member-states of the EU’ (when EU institutions have no competence and only act upon request of the member-states)” (Burke 2012). In the speeches of Luxemburg (A/66/PV.24), Denmark (A/66/PV.30) and Hungary (A/66/PV.20), Van Rompuy is referred to as “speaking on behalf of the European Union”. No explicit mention is made in Van Rompuy’s speech.

  14. 14.

    Those states are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom. The Czech Republic only mentions a general need for domestic politicians to be driving negotiations (A/67/PV.8).

  15. 15.

    Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy, Hungary, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, Romania, Portugal. Italy has been included as, although it does not directly mention the speech, it uses the wording “In accordance with the long-standing position of the European Union […]” and “[…] strongly supports the European Union’s call […].” Denmark only declared to share the commitment towards a two-state solution with the European Union. Germany referred to the role of the Quartet. France made a general call to Europeans; the UK, Greece, Czech Republic, and Finland did not mention the European Union (A/67/PV.44 and A/67/PV.45). It is relevant to remind at this stage that the European Union does not have voting rights in this type of matter at the General Assembly.

  16. 16.

    Denmark and Italy went from abstention to yes; Germany, Lithuania and the Netherlands from no to abstention; Slovenia from yes to abstention; Sweden from no to yes. Source: A/67/PV.44 and TheGuardian.co.uk 2011b.

  17. 17.

    See International Criminal Court, Update on Situation in Palestine, April 3 2012.

References

  • Ashton, C. (2009). High representative of the union for Foreign affairs and security policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, statement at the European Parliament debate on the Middle East Peace Process. SPEECH/09/584. Strasbourg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Béclard, J. (forthcoming). With the head in the air and the feet on the ground: EU’s actorness in international space governance. Global Governance.

    Google Scholar 

  • Birnberg, G. (2009). The voting behaviour of the European Union member states in the United Nations General Assembly. Thesis submitted to the Department of Government of the London School of Economics. Accessed December 18, 2012, from http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/23/

  • Brattberg, M., & Rhinard, M. (2012). The EU and US as International actors in disaster relief (Bruges Political Research Papers, Vol. 22, pp. 1–36). Belgium: Cahiers de recherche politique de Bruges.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burke, E. (2012). What Europe's new diplomatic service can do for Britain. Center for European Reform. Accessed July 9, 2012, from http://centreforeuropeanreform.blogspot.co.il/2012/01/britain-should-stop-undermining-eu.html

  • Chopin, T., & Lefvebre, M. (2010). Three phone numbers for Europe: Will the Lisbon treaty make the European Union more effective abroad? (US—Europe analysis series, Vol. 43, pp. 1–9). Washington, DC: Centre on the United States and Europe at Brookings.

    Google Scholar 

  • Council of the European Union (2009). Foreign Affairs Council of 8 December 2009—Council conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process, 17281/09. Brussels.

    Google Scholar 

  • Council of the European Union (2010). Foreign Affairs Council of 13 December 2010—Council conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process, 17738/10. Brussels.

    Google Scholar 

  • Council of the European Union (2011, October 10). Middle East Peace Process—Council conclusions, 15275/11. Brussels.

    Google Scholar 

  • Council of the European Union (2011, July 18). Middle East Peace Process—Council conclusions, 13011/11. Brussels.

    Google Scholar 

  • Council of the European Union (2012, January 23). Middle East Peace Process—Council conclusions, 5626/12. Brussels.

    Google Scholar 

  • Council of the European Union (2012, May 14). Middle East Peace Process—Council conclusions, 9909/12. Brussels.

    Google Scholar 

  • Council of the European Union (2012). Foreign Affairs Council of 10 December 2012, 17438/12. Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  • Council of the European Union (2012, September 21). Background memo on the European Union at the 67th UN General Assembly (24–28 September, New York). CL12-117EN. Accessed December 18, 2012 from http://www.eu-un.europa.eu/articles/en/article_12608_en.htm

  • Delcourt, B. (2011). The EU at the UNGA. EuroBroadMap, Work Pakage 4, Politics and Ideology. Brussels.

    Google Scholar 

  • EUobserver.com, Rettman A. (2011, September 23). Palestine fed up with waiting for EU common position.

    Google Scholar 

  • EUobserver.com, Rettman A. (2012, February 29). Palestine’s UN upgrade coming back on EU agenda.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Parliament (2011). Resolution of 29 September 2011 on the situation in Palestine, 2011/2828(RSP), text adopted P7_TA(2011)0429. Strasbourg.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Union (2011, April 21). EU Statement—United Nations Security Council: Situation in Middle East, including the Palestinian question. EUUN11-068EN. New York. Accessed December 18, 2012, from http://www.eu-un.europa.eu/articles/en/article_11085_en.htm

  • European Union (2011, September 12). Remarks by the high representative Catherine Ashton following the meeting with the Foreign Minister of Egypt, Mohammed Kamel Amr, A 354/11. Brussels.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Parliament (2012). Resolution of 22 November 2012 on the situation in Gaza, text adopted P7_TA-PROV(2012)0454 2012/2883(RSP). Strasbourg.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Union (2012a). Summary: Description of the work of the delegation of the European Union to the United Nations in New York. DELNY11-003EN. Accessed July 9, 2012, from http://www.eu-un.europa.eu/articles/en/article_458_en.htm

  • European Union (2012, October 24). The EU and the Palestinian authority conclude negotiations on a new ENP Joint Action Plan, A 465/12. Ramallah.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Union (2012, November 29). Declaration by the high representative on behalf of the European Union on the Middle East Peace process. 16079/2/12 REV 2—PRESSE 470. Brussels.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security (2012, May 15). ENP package, country progress report—occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), MEMO/12/341. Brussels.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Council. (1980). Declaration by the European council on the situation in the Middle East (Venice declaration) 12–13 June 1980. Venice. Accessed December February 16, 2013, from http://eeas.europa.eu/mepp/docs/venice_declaration_1980_en.pdf

  • European Union (2012). Consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union in consolidated versions of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Official Journal, 2012/C 326/01. Brussels. Accessed December 11, 2012, from http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2012:326:FULL:EN:PDF

  • Haaretz.com, DPA and the Associated Press (2011, September 12). Ashton: No unified EU stance on UN recognition of Palestinian state.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hague, W. (2012, November 28). Foreign Secretary statement to the House of Commons on the Palestinian resolution at the UN General Assembly. Accessed December 10, 2012, from http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?id=839634082&view=PressS

  • Hemra, S., Raines, T., & Whitman, R. (2011). A diplomatic entrepreneur—making the most of the European External Action Service. Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and Chatam House Report, iv-25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, S. (1966). Obstinate or obsolete? The fate of the nation-state and the case of Western Europe. Daedalus, 95(3), 862–915.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollis, R. (2010). The basic stakes and strategy of the EU and member states. In E. Bulut Aymat (Ed.), European involvement in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Chaillot Papers (Vol. 124, pp. 31–42).

    Google Scholar 

  • House of Lords, European Union Committee (2007). The EU and the Middle East Peace Process; Volume I: Report. 26th Report of Session 2006–07. Published by the Authority of the House of Lords, London: The Stationery Office Limited.

    Google Scholar 

  • International Criminal Court (2012). The office of the Prosecutor. Update on situation in Palestine. Accessed July 14, 2012, from http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC/Structure+of+the+Court/Office+of+the+Prosecutor/Comm+and+Ref/Palestine//

  • Kaczynski, P. M., EPIN, Akule, D., Braun, M., O Broin, P., Georgiou, K.E., Langdal, F. et al. (2010). Lisbon five months on: Surveying the new EU political scene. Commentary, 5, 1–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesoir.com, & Di Prima, C. (2012, November 29). La Palestine à l’ONU: la Belgique dit “oui”

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehne, S. (2011). Can Lisbon potential be realized? In J. Techau (Ed.), (2012) Strategic Europe. Brussels: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

    Google Scholar 

  • Middle East Quartet (2011, September 23). Statement. Accessed July 9, 2012 from, http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/124734.pdf. New York.

  • Middle East Quartet (2012, April 4). Statement. Accessed July 9, 2012 from http://www.eu-un.europa.eu/articles/en/article_12061_en.htm Washington DC

  • Musu, C. (2007). Two years of EU-Israel action plan: An assessment of the political dimension from a European perspective. In R. Nathanson & S. Stetter (Eds.), The Middle East under fire? EU-Israel relations in a region between war and conflict resolution (pp. 30–35). Tel Aviv, Berlin: The Israeli European Policy Network.

    Google Scholar 

  • Musu, C. (2011). European security and the Middle East Peace Process. In M. Foucault, B. Irondelle, & F. Merand (Eds.), European security since the fall of the Berlin wall. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pogodda, S. (2011). Obama, the EU and the Middle East. L’Europe en Formation, 2(360), 43–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmid, D. (2007). European views of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: The contribution of member states to framing. In R. Nathanson & S. Stetter (Eds.), The Middle East under fire? EU-Israel relations in a region between war and conflict resolution (pp. 88–114). Tel Aviv, Berlin: The Israeli European Policy Network.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sjøstedt, G. (1977). The external role of the European community. Westmead: Saxon House.

    Google Scholar 

  • TheGuardian.co.uk McGreal, C., & Sherwood, H. (2011a, September 23). Palestinian statehood goes to UN in key moment for peace process.

    Google Scholar 

  • TheGuardian.co.uk McGreal C., & Sherwood, H. (2011b, November 1). How Unesco countries voted on Palestinian membership.

    Google Scholar 

  • TheNewYorkTimes.com, Dempsey J. (2011, September 12). E.U. divided by ‘Palestine’ Bid at the U.N.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (1974). Observer status for the Palestine Liberation Organization, A/RES/3237 (XXIX). New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (1988). Question of Palestine, A/RES/43/177. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2011). Participation of the European Union in the work of the United Nations, A/65/276. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2011, September 21). 66th session, 11th Plenary meeting. A/66/PV.11. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2011, September 21). 66th session, 12th Plenary meeting, A/66/PV.12. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2011, September 21). 66th session, 13th Plenary meeting, A/66/PV.13. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2011, September 22). 66th session, 15th Plenary meeting, A/66/PV.15. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2011, September 22). 66th session, 16th Plenary meeting, A/66/PV.16. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2011, September 22). 66th session, 16th Plenary meeting, A/66/PV.19. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2011, September 23). 66th session, 20th Plenary meeting, A/66/PV.20. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2011, September 23). 66th session, 21th Plenary meeting, A/66/PV.21. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2011, September 23). 66th session, 24th Plenary meeting, A/66/PV.22. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2011, September 24). 66th session, 23rd Plenary meeting, A/66/PV.23. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2011, September 24). 66th session, 24th Plenary meeting, A/66/PV.24. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2011, September 26). 66th session, 25th Plenary meeting, A/66/PV.25. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2011, September 26). 66th session, 26th Plenary meeting, A/66/PV.26. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2011, September 27). 66th session, 27th Plenary meeting, A/66/PV.29. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2011, September 27). 66th session, 30th Plenary meeting, A/66/PV.30. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2011). A/66/371—Security Council (2011) S/2011/592, Application of Palestine for admission to membership in the United Nations. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2012, September 26). 67th session, 9th Plenary meeting, A/67/PV.9. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2012, September 26). 67th session, 11th Plenary meeting, A/67/PV.11. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2012, September 28). 67th session, 15th Plenary meeting, A/67/PV.15. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2012, October 1). 67th session, 21st Plenary meeting, A/67/PV.21. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly. (2012, September 25). 67th session, 8th Plenary meeting, A/67/PV.8. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly. (2012, September 28). 67th session, 16th Plenary meeting, A/67/PV.16. New York

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly. (2012, November 29). 67th session, 44th Plenary meeting, A/67/PV.44. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly. (2012, November 29). 67th session, 45th Plenary meeting, A/67/PV.45. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations General Assembly (2012, November 29). Resolution adopted by the General Assembly. Status of Palestine in the United Nations. A/RES/67/19. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Security Council, (2011). Report of the Committee on the Admission of New Members concerning the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the United Nations, S/2011/705. New York.

    Google Scholar 

Interviews

  • Four EU Diplomats, April–June 2012. Brussels.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mr. Marc Otte, Director Policy Planning, Federal Public Service, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Belgium, Brussels. June 19, 2012. Brussels.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut d’études européennes, Université libre de Bruxelles – Recherche et Enseignement en Politique Internationale (REPI), 39, Av. F.D. Roosevelt – CPI 172/01, 1050, Bruxelles, Belgium

    Valentina Morselli

Authors
  1. Valentina Morselli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Valentina Morselli .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , European Union Center, University of Miami, Memorial Drive 1000, Coral Gables, 33146, Florida, USA

    Astrid Boening

  2. Center for Global Studies, Institute for Political Science, Bonn University, Walter-Flex Str. 3, Bonn, 53113, Germany

    Jan-Frederik Kremer

  3. , Chair for International Politcs, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, Bochum, 44780, Germany

    Aukje van Loon

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Morselli, V. (2013). The European Union and the Question of Palestine’s Status in the United Nations. In: Boening, A., Kremer, JF., van Loon, A. (eds) Global Power Europe - Vol. 2. Global Power Shift. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32416-1_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation