Podiumsdiskussion:
Re-thinking the EU's Role in the Middle East Peace Process: Potential and Limitations

Europäisches Haus, 1. Stock
Unter den Linden 78
10117 Berlin
Berlin Brandenburg

Beschreibung:

Panel discussion with

• Dr. Muriel Asseburg, Head of the Middle East and Africa Research Division, German Institute for International and Security Affairs, Berlin

• Dr. Lars Hänsel, Resident Representative of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Israel, Jerusalem

• Minister Ilan Mor, Deputy Ambassador, Embassy of Israel, Berlin

• Andreas Michaelis, Director General for Near and Middle Eastern Affairs and the Maghreb, Federal Foreign Office, Berlin

• Gwenda Jeffreys-Jones, Desk Officer for the Middle East Peace Process, Directorate-General External Relations, European Commission, Brussels

Moderator: Andrea Nüsse, Der Tagesspiegel, Berlin

With the recent war in Gaza, the outcome of Israeli elections and the divide among Palestinians, prospects for stability in the Middle East remain uncertain. In this politically fragile situation external actors are called-upon to openly re-assess their role in the region and to constructively step up their conflict resolution efforts. In the absence of a coherent strategy for the region, it is now time for the EU and its member states to critically evaluate their efforts and instruments (such as the European Neighborhood Policy and the Union for the Mediterranean) so far, identify shortcomings and formulate policy options. What are potential and limitations of the EU to become a credible mediator between the conflict parties, a facilitator for the involvement of other influential regional players and a reliable partner for the United States in the region in order to reach a comprehensive settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict. With Barack Obama’s willingness to make the resolution of this conflict a foreign policy priority, there is a window of opportunity for a renewed transatlantic initiative to contribute to regional stability and development.

What EU policies and instruments exist with regard to the Middle East, how are they formulated and developed and how effective have they been so far? How would a framework for cooperation and burden-sharing in the region between Europe and the US look like? How can the EU meaningfully engage actors such as Hamas and Syria that are decisive for a sustainable solution to the conflict? How is the EU as an actor perceived by the conflict parties and what does this mean for its leverage as a player in the region? Finally, what role do civil society initiatives and informal diplomacy play in times of gridlock at the diplomatic and political level?

The event will be opened by Matthias Petschke, Head of the European Commission Representation to Germany and by representatives of the Euro-Israeli Cooperation Platform (EICOP).

The discussion will be conducted in English. To end the evening we invite you for a glas of wine.

Please confirm your participation via Email or Facsimile.

Kategorie:

Politik

Veranstalter:

Citizens of Europe, the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), Dialogue Lab, the European Commission’s Representation in Germany, the Young Israeli Forum for Cooperation (YIFC)

Ansprechpartner:

Euro-Israeli Cooperation Platform

E-Mail / Fax für Anmeldungen:

eicop(at)citizens-of-europe.eu, 030 - 8687010929

Telefonnummer des Veranstalters:

030 - 8687010922

Weitere Informationen:

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