European capitals are busy with the organization of an international conference on the two-state solution, which would elaborate on the French Middle East Peace Initiative. Israel and the Palestinians were not invited to the preparative conference in Paris June 3. European leaders, including more Israel-leaning countries, such as Germany and the United Kingdom, agree that the next phase would include both. According to a senior European Union official who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, all EU foreign ministers decided to support the French initiative in order to challenge the parties and bolster the position of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

EU officials believe that not much can come out of such a conference without the United States playing an active role. Therefore, if the United States remains passive, the conference can be only of preliminary nature, to set a policy platform for future negotiations. And so if the conference eventually takes place before a new US president is sworn in (with a lame-duck administration in Washington) — with the United States effectively playing a passive role — Brussels will probably take the lead, to avoid a diplomatic vacuum.

The EU official told Al-Monitor, “Europe has decided to play a more independent role regarding the two-state solution process, especially given the transition in Washington and the uncertainty about the next president. Israeli-Palestinian conflict resolution is a key strategic interest of most European countries, as it affects the fight against fundamentalist terror and the security of the Mediterranean. Hence we would like to formulate the terms of reference and the structure for future negotiations.”

According to the source, EU headquarters' officials — under the guidance of High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini — are coordinating content and moderation of such a conference mainly vis-a-vis French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is fully in the know.