Reuters: France questions European Commission presence at Board of Peace meeting

France expressed surprise on February 19 over the European Commission’s participation in the Board of Peace meeting in Washington, saying the Commission lacked a mandate to represent EU member states.

Pascal Confavreux, a spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry, said that Paris believes the Board of Peace should refocus on Gaza in line with a United Nations Security Council resolution and that France will not participate until the issue is clarified, Reuters reports. 

"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.

Most European governments have chosen not to send top-level representatives to the gathering. However, the European Commission confirmed that Dubravka Suica, commissioner for the Mediterranean, would attend.

"Our objective is clear: coordinated action, accountable governance, and tangible results for the Palestinian people," Suica wrote on social media platform X on February 19 ahead of the meeting.

By Sabina Mammadli