Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/597 of 18 April 2016 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP)

The mandate of the EUSR shall be based on the Union's policy objectives regarding the MEPP.

The overall objective is a comprehensive peace that should be achieved on the basis of a two-State solution, with Israel and a democratic, contiguous, viable, peaceful and sovereign Palestinian State living side by side within secure and recognised borders enjoying normal relations with their neighbours in accordance with the relevant United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolutions, the Madrid principles, including land for peace, the Roadmap, the agreements previously reached by the parties, and the Arab Peace Initiative. In light of the different strands of the Israeli-Arab relations, the regional dimension constitutes an essential element for a comprehensive peace.

In achieving this objective, policy priorities are the preservation of the two-State solution and relaunching and supporting the peace process. Clear parameters defining the basis for negotiations are key elements for a successful outcome and the Union has set out its position with regard to such parameters in the Council conclusions of December 2009, December 2010 and July 2014, which it will continue to actively promote.

The Union is committed to working with the parties and with partners in the international community, including through participating in the Middle East Quartet (‘the Quartet’) and actively pursuing appropriate international initiatives to create a new dynamic for the negotiations.

In order to achieve the policy objectives, the mandate of the EUSR shall be to:

1. provide an active and efficient Union contribution to actions and initiatives leading to a final settlement of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict based on the two-State solution and in line with the Union parameters;

2. facilitate and maintain close contacts with all the parties to the peace process, relevant political actors, other countries of the region, members of the Quartet and other relevant countries, as well as the UN and other relevant international organisations, like the League of Arab States, in order to work with them in strengthening the peace process;

3. work as appropriate to promote and contribute to a possible new framework of negotiations in consultation with all the key stakeholders and the Member States;

4. actively support and contribute to peace negotiations between the parties, including by putting forward proposals on behalf of the Union in the context of those negotiations;

5. ensure the continued presence of the Union in relevant international fora;

6. contribute to crisis management and prevention, including with regard to Gaza;

7. contribute, where requested, to the implementation of international agreements reached between the parties and engage with them diplomatically in the event of non-compliance with the terms of those agreements;

8. contribute to political efforts to bring about a fundamental change leading to a sustainable solution for the Gaza Strip which is an integral part of a future Palestinian State and should be addressed in the negotiations;

9. pay particular attention to factors affecting the regional dimension of the peace process, to the engagement with Arab partners and to the implementation of the Arab Peace Initiative;

10. engage constructively with signatories to agreements within the framework of the peace process in order to promote compliance with the basic norms of democracy, including respect for international humanitarian law, human rights and the rule of law;

11. make proposals for Union intervention in the peace process and on the best way of pursuing Union initiatives and ongoing peace process related Union efforts, such as the Union's contribution to Palestinian reforms and including the political aspects of relevant Union development projects;

12. engage the parties in refraining from unilateral actions threatening the viability of the two-State solution;

13. report, as Envoy to the Quartet, on progress and evolution in the negotiations and contribute to the preparation of Quartet Envoys meetings on the basis of Union positions and through coordination with other Quartet members;

14. contribute to the implementation of the Union's human rights policy in cooperation with the EUSR for Human Rights, including the Union Guidelines on human rights, in particular the Union Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict as well as on violence against women and girls and combating all forms of discrimination against them, and Union policy regarding UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security, including by monitoring and reporting on developments as well as formulating recommendations in this regard;

15. contribute to a better understanding of the role of the Union among opinion leaders in the region.

The EUSR shall support the work of the HR, while maintaining an overview of all MEPP related activities of the Union in the region.

The EUSR shall be responsible for the implementation of the mandate, acting under the authority of the HR.

The PSC shall maintain a privileged link with the EUSR and shall be the EUSR's primary point of contact with the Council. The PSC shall provide the EUSR with strategic guidance and political direction within the framework of the mandate, without prejudice to the powers of the HR.

The EUSR shall work in close coordination with the European External Action Service (EEAS) and its relevant departments.

The EUSR shall work in close coordination with the Union Representative Office in Jerusalem, the Union delegation in Tel Aviv, as well as with all other relevant Union delegations in the region.

The EUSR shall be primarily based in the region while ensuring a regular presence at EEAS headquarters.