Reuters – France said the European Commission had no mandate to represent member states at US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace in Washington, after its Mediterranean commissioner attended the gathering alongside representatives from more than 45 countries.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said as far as Paris was concerned, the Board of Peace needed to recentre to focus on Gaza in line with a United Nations Security Council resolution and that until that ambiguity was lifted, France would not take part.
"Regarding the European Commission and its participation, in reality we are surprised because it does not have a mandate from the Council to go and participate," he told reporters, referring to the Council of the European Union's members.
Trump presided over the first meeting of his Board of Peace on Thursday.
UN hits out at Trump's ‘Board of Peace’ ahead of inaugural meeting in Washington
EU divisions
Most European governments opted to not send top-level representatives to the gathering, but the European Commission sent its commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica.
"Our objective is clear: coordinated action, accountable governance, and tangible results for the Palestinian people," Suica wrote on social media platform X on Thursday ahead of the meeting.
While Suica attended as an observer, several EU member states have raised concerns about an EU commissioner participating in a meeting of a body many EU governments see as undermining international law.
Some diplomats have also questioned whether the European Commission has a mandate to decide on sending a representative without approval from capitals.
What is Trump's 'Board of Peace'?
Mandate concerns
"It is surprising that the commission has decided to be represented at the event, given that numerous countries have expressed concerns about its potential instrumentalisation and have questioned the credibility of an initiative that appears to seek to supplant the United Nations," a Belgian diplomat said.
Europeans have also been divided on how to approach the US-led gathering, with some sending officials in an observer capacity. The United Kingdom and Germany have sent ambassadors to the event, while France has opted not to be represented.
The commission has defended Suica's attendance as in line with its commitment to the implementation of a ceasefire and part of the institution's efforts to support Gaza's recovery and reconstruction.
