As noted in my response to the Deputy of 23 February 2023, the commitment to set up an annual high-level political dialogue between the EU and the Palestinian Authority was made at the Foreign Affairs Council in January 2023, at which EU Foreign Ministers had a lunchtime exchange with the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammad Shtayyeh, and Palestinian Foreign Minister, Dr Riad Malki.
The overriding goal of such a dialogue would be to deepen bilateral relations between the EU and the Palestinian Authority, which are guided by a number of frameworks, including the EU-Palestine Action Plan under the European Neighbourhood Policy. I welcome that the dialogue will provide a high-level forum for political exchange, including on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on domestic developments within the Palestinian Authority. It will also lend greater visibility to the role of the EU as the lead development and humanitarian partner, working to improve the lives of all Palestinians and promoting shared human values.
In view of recent developments, the EU also continues to engage with all partners at the highest level to underline the urgent need to restore a political horizon towards a two-state solution. On 8 March the EU High Representative issued a declaration on behalf of the 27 EU Member States, expressing deep concern at the increasing violence and extremism in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. In this declaration, the EU also reaffirmed its proposal of an unprecedented package of economic, political and security support in the context of a final status agreement as endorsed in the Council conclusions of December 2013, recalling the importance of working closely with other Arab and international partners to this end.
