The European Union, represented by European Commissioner Dubravka Šuica, is set to attend a meeting of the Peace Council in Washington, which will specifically discuss issues related to the Gaza Strip. A spokesperson for the EU, Guillaume Mercier, emphasized that while the EU would participate in the discussions, it would not become a member of the Peace Council. This involvement reflects the EU's long-standing commitment to promoting a ceasefire in Gaza and supporting reconstruction efforts in the area.

Initially, the purpose of the Peace Council, chaired by Donald Trump, was to oversee ceasefires and rebuilding efforts following the conflict between Hamas and Israel. However, its mandate has since evolved to potentially address a broader range of international conflicts, raising concerns among some EU member states. They fear that the establishment of this council could position it as a rival to the United Nations, undermining the existing mechanisms for international conflict resolution.

The decision of the EU to join discussions while stopping short of membership highlights the delicate balance it seeks to maintain in international diplomacy, particularly regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As the landscape of global governance continues to shift, the EU's stance may reflect broader apprehensions about American-led initiatives and their implications for multilateral cooperation and international law.