The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Palestinian Rights Committee delegation visited European Union's Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on 5 May 2026. The Delegation consisted of Amb. Coly Seck (Chair, Permanent Representative of Senegal), Amb. Penda A. Naanda (Vice-Chair, Permanent Representative of Namibia), Min. Riyad Mansour (Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine), and Amb. Daylenis Moreno Guerra (Deputy Permanent Representative of Cuba). They held a number of meetings with counterparts from the European Union and EU Parliament to strengthen cooperation and advance efforts toward a just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine. The Committee Delegation stressed the importance of maintaining momentum from the 2025 Conference on the Two-State Solution<\/a> and the \"New York Declaration<\/a>\" to revitalize the political process leading to a solution of the conflict.<\/p>\n During the meeting with Ms. Francesca Pessina, Head of <\/strong>Division for Middle East-Palestinian Territories, Israel and Eastern Mediterranean<\/strong><\/span> (pictured below) within the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Delegation stressed <\/span>that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic and that access restrictions to humanitarian aid compound the emergency. They encouraged sustained donors' assistance for humanitarian relief in Gaza and international advocacy for unhindered humanitarian access including allowing fully operational crossings.<\/p>\n During the meeting with Ms. Christine O'Dwyer, Senior Middle East Advisor & Ms. Sibylle Bikar, Multilateral\/Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Senior Advisor, Cabinet of Ms. Kaja Kallas, High Representative\/Vice-President of the European Commission<\/strong> (pictured below), the Delegation w<\/span>elcomed the sustained engagement of Ms. Kaja Kallas on the question of Palestine, including her continued emphasis on an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian access at scale and a credible political horizon based on the two-State solution.<\/p>\n In a meeting with the European Parliament Delegation for relations with Palestine (DPAL)<\/strong> Chair<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>MEP <\/span>Lynn Boylan and MEPs\u00a0<\/span>Matja\u017e Nemec & Marc Botenga (pictured below), the Committee Delegation welcomed the leadership of Ms. Lynn Boylan as Chair of the DPAL and noted the importance she and her colleagues have attached to making the Delegation an active player of parliamentary diplomacy in support of a ceasefire, an end to the war in Gaza and a two-State solution.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> They also encouraged the Delegation to continue using its platform to keep focus on the situation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, including illegal settlement expansion, settler violence, demolitions, <\/span>evictions<\/span>\u00a0and other measures that undermine the viability of the two-State solution.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On 7 May, the delegation also met with the European Union Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Christophe Bigot<\/strong> (pictured below), at the headquarters of the European External Action Service. The meeting addressed international efforts to preserve the two-State solution and preparations for upcoming international meetings, including the track related to the \"New York Declaration\" and the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.<\/p>\n During the meeting, Minister Riyad Mansour stated that the current stage requires a shift from political positions to practical and concrete steps. He stressed that Israel continues to undermine the two-State solution through settlement activity, racist legislation, and systematic violations of international law, including against the Palestinian people, their leadership, and their national institutions. He also called on the European Union to take firmer measures consistent with its stated commitments to protecting international law and human rights.<\/p>\n For his part, Mr. Bigot reaffirmed the European Union's commitment to the two-State solution and its rejection of settlements and unilateral measures. He noted that European discussions are continuing on possible additional steps, including those related to settlements and settlement products, political and financial support for the Palestinian National Authority, and cooperation with international and Arab partners to preserve a viable political horizon.<\/p>\n The meeting also addressed the importance of accelerating the release of financial support allocated to the Palestinian Authority in light of the severe financial crisis it faces. Participants also emphasized the need to continue Palestinian-European coordination in the coming period, particularly ahead of the upcoming international meetings in New York.<\/p>\n Furthermore, on 7 May 2026, the Bureau delegation held a meeting with ambassadors of EU Member States serving on the European Union's Political and Security Committee (PSC)<\/strong>. The meeting was hosted by Ambassador Luke Feeney, Ireland's Representative to the Political and Security Committee, at the premises of Ireland's Permanent Representation to the European Union (Pictured below). The meeting addressed the grave developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem; the escalation of settlement activity; the risks posed by the E1 plan; Israel's withholding of Palestinian clearance revenues; and the impact of these measures on the Palestinian Government's ability to meet its obligations.<\/p>\n The delegation stressed the need for the European Union to move beyond statements of condemnation and take practical steps toward accountability, including measures concerning settlements and settlers, and a review of trade relations with Israel in light of violations of international law and international humanitarian law.<\/p>\n For their part, ambassadors of several EU Member States expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation, underscoring the importance of supporting the Palestinian Authority, upholding international law, and continuing European efforts to halt the escalation and preserve the possibility of achieving the two-State solution.<\/p>\n The meeting concluded with an emphasis on the importance of the partnership between Palestine and the European Union, and on the central role Europe can play in defending international law and protecting the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Brussels_3-e1778079715413.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Brussels_1.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Brussels_2-e1778078297232.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Meeting-with-Mr.-Christophe-Bigot-EU-Special-Representative-for-the-Middle-East-e1778175577132-1024x737.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Image-1-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PSC-meeting-EU-1-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/p>\n