Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

We have invested a lot of effort in getting an agreed EU position and statement. That was not easy. As I am sure the Deputy is aware, there have been differing views within the EU and the Foreign Affairs Council concerning the Middle East peace process. It was a significant step forward to arrive at a conclusion last Monday upon which all 27 EU foreign Ministers were able to agree. I would like to see that momentum being maintained and therefore we need to continue to have a united EU position on where we are moving things. There are a number of matters we have to advance, the first of which is maintaining the pressure for talks to be resumed. The Quartet statement, which was issued in September 2011, sets out the framework for that. The timetable is being missed but, nevertheless, the framework is there for that.

Second, we must be clear about what is happening on the ground and make a clear statement about it. That was the thrust of the recent statement. It is not really something that comes within my remit as chair-in-office of the OSCE. The approach we are taking on this particular issue is within the context of the EU Council.

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