Germany’s foreign minister discussed a German-led initiative to foster Middle East peace at the Lisbon Informal European Council earlier this month. Frank-Walter Steinmeier explained, “In order to swiftly generate the required momentum following an Israel-Palestinian accord and the Middle East conference planned for the autumn, Europe needs to clearly spell out what contribution it intends to make to taking this process forward.”

The EU’s Middle East Action Plan, endorsed by the other EU foreign ministers, would aid in the creation of peace “by promoting small and medium-sized businesses in the Palestinian territories and building up special economic zones. The plan also aims to increase EU assistance in the training of Palestinian police and judiciary as well as in the educational and civil service sectors with greater EU assistance focused on Palestinian universities and students” (Deutsche Welle, October 19).

To intiate the plan on the ground, the German minister is due to visit the region in the forthcoming weeks, before the U.S.-backed Middle East conference planned for the end of next month. “Steinmeier added that there was no need to wait until the U.S.-hosted conference on the Middle East next month before going ahead with the EU’s plan” (ibid.).

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Steinmeier said, “I told my colleague [U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza] Rice that we will do everything to ensure that Europe plays a constructive role.”

This move suggests the EU feels it has taken a backseat to the U.S. in peace negotions in the Middle East long enough. The fact that Europe looks to invigorate peace of its own accord instead of working through the Quartet shows that the Union is considering itself a peace broker in its own right.

This falls in line with what Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote over 10 years ago: “The European Union is moving to be the heavyweight in the Middle East. Europe is moving not only to be a co-sponsor in the peace process—they want to gain control of it.” And control is what they will get. For more information, read the Trumpet story “The Counterfeit Peacemaker.”