European Union foreign ministers signalled a cautious willingness to engage with a controversial United States-backed initiative for Gaza, as they met in Brussels with the newly appointed head of US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace.
The meeting on Monday brought together the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, and diplomats from across the bloc with Nikolay Mladenov, a former Bulgarian politician and seasoned UN envoy chosen by Trump to lead his recently inaugurated Board of Peace.
The talks come as European capitals are divided over how fully to embrace Washington’s plans for the future of Gaza.
Kallas struck a constructive tone ahead of the meeting, emphasising that the EU is keen to play a meaningful role.
“We want to be part of the peace process in Gaza and also contribute with what we have,” she said.
After the meeting, she noted that Mladenov had provided a detailed update on the humanitarian situation and the board’s strategy, which could include a tangible EU role in stabilisation efforts and aid delivery.
“It was good to hear … that it’s really trying to improve the situation,” Kallas said.
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Divisions over engagement
However, the EU remains divided on how to engage with the Board of Peace, with fault lines between member states exposed, from southern Europe to the Nordic region.
Hungary and Bulgaria have signed up as full participants, alongside EU candidate countries Turkey, Kosovo and Albania.
Meanwhile, a dozen other EU nations – including Germany, Italy and Poland – have opted for observer status following an inaugural meeting in Washington last week.
Some of Europe’s most prominent voices have kept their distance. French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen both declined invitations to join, as did Pope Leo XIV.
Von der Leyen did, however, send Mediterranean Commissioner Dubravka Šuica as an observer – a move that has sparked institutional tensions within the bloc.
France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, criticised the decision, arguing it bypassed EU procedures. He insisted the Commission “should never have attended” without prior consultation with member states.
Brussels, for its part, has defended the move, with a spokesperson maintaining that accepting such invitations falls within the Commission’s remit.
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Balancing act
The disagreement highlights a broader question facing the EU – how to remain influential in Gaza while preserving unity, and adherence to its own institutional rules.
The EU already plays a hands-on role, including overseeing the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.
It is also the largest donor to the Palestinian Authority, giving it significant leverage in reconstruction and governance discussions.
Nonetheless, practical challenges abound. Plans to train Palestinian police in Gaza are currently awaiting Israeli approval, while efforts to impose fresh EU sanctions on Israeli settlers have stalled after one member state blocked the move.
European leaders remain firmly supportive of the United Nations’ mandate in Gaza, even as Trump’s Board of Peace hints at a more expansive – and potentially rival – approach to conflict resolution.
From envisioning Gaza’s reconstruction as a modern, high-tech hub to questioning the traditional role of the UN Security Council, the Board has set out a controversial vision for Gaza.
However, the realities on the ground – including the fragile ceasefire and limited progress on immediate humanitarian goals – may ultimately shape what is achievable.
(with newswires)
