Gaza, EU Commission joins Trump’s Board of Peace as observer: “We are not becoming members”

Brussels – The European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, will attend the first meeting of the Board of Peace—the controversial peace council established by the Gaza peace plan, but which Donald Trump is shaping into a new international body—scheduled for this weekend in Washington. A spokesperson for the EU executive confirmed the news, which had already been leaked in recent days, while clarifying the capacity in which Šuica will participate in the meeting: “I would like to emphasise that the Commission is not becoming a full member of the Board of Peace and will only participate as an observer member in the part of the meeting dedicated to the situation in Gaza,” the spokesperson said. 

According to Guillaume Mercier, spokesperson for the European Commission for International Partnerships, the reasons for Šuica’s presence can be traced back to the “EU’s historic commitment to implementing the ceasefire in the Middle East and its involvement in international efforts to support post-war reconstruction and recovery in Gaza”. At the same time, the Commission’s insistence on reiterating the nature of Suiča’s role in Washington is a sign of persistent doubts among the Brussels executive about the compatibility of the Board’s governance with European law and the UN Charter. Concerns that had already emerged in recent weeks and were also reiterated in today’s press briefing. 

A separate chapter concerns coordination between the Commission and the European countries that will be full members of the Board (Hungary and Bulgaria) or will travel to Washington as observers, such as Šuica (Italy, Greece, Romania, and Cyprus). In this regard, Mercier confirmed that “the Commission is in contact with ministers from various governments, who will discuss the European contribution to the peace plan for Gaza during the Foreign Affairs Council scheduled for next week.” 

The spokesperson also added a footnote on an issue—Israel’s continued bombing in violation of the ceasefire agreement—which is closely linked to the work of the Board of Peace and its effectiveness. After reiterating the Commission’s call for all parties to the conflict to commit to the effective implementation of the peace plan, the Berlaymont spokesperson made specific reference to the recent decision by the Israeli War Cabinet to further extend Tel Aviv’s control over the West Bank. “This move is in stark contrast to UN Resolution 2334 and the principle of two peoples, two states,” said Mercier, “and the Commission continues to consider Israel’s annexation of the West Bank territories to be illegitimate.” 

The Board of Peace initiative stems from one of the twenty points of the peace plan for Gaza proposed by the US last autumn. According to its founding charter, it is “an international organisation that aims to promote stability and ensure lasting peace” within the framework of the Middle East ceasefire signed in October 2025. Formally established in January this year, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, its main members include, in addition to President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, the President’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.