By Bruno Waterfield - 15th April 2004
Iraq unrest and the latest US-Israel Middle East initiative will dominate a meeting of Europe's foreign ministers.
Escalating violence in Iraq will cast a pall over the informal gathering and raises questions over Europe's role in rebuilding the country - as well as doubts over a June 30 handover to civilian rule.
Foreign ministers, meeting in Tullamore under the auspices of the Irish EU presidency, will have more freedom than usual to think outside the loop on the latest hot international topics.
The talks known as a 'Gymnich meeting' - named after the 1974 German venue of the first such event - allow national capitals to discuss world events on an informal "brainstorming" footing.
Iraq - an issue which this time last year had driven deep divisions between EU countries - will again overshadow proceedings.
Spiralling clashes between US-led military occupation forces and Shiite rebels raise difficult issues for European capitals already wary of becoming embroiled in a situation not of their making.
All sides of the debate will be able to agree on a boosted role for the UN in any summer transfer of power from the US to a new Iraqi administration.
But the pace of events on the ground and a deteriorating military context will raise "daunting problems" beyond the scope of UN declarations or resolutions.
Speaking on Wednesday, Brussels chief Romano Prodi voiced fears held by many EU governments that current conditions in Iraq were “the worst possible”.
“This solution is also becoming more and more difficult - many solutions that were possible immediately after the war are now complicated,” he said.
Echoing Prodi some governments may warn that UN involvement now is too little too late unless there is a more profound rethink of the US role in Iraq.
Speaking on Thursday the European Commission insisted that “the UN should not just be a partner but should be given the lead”.
Ministers will also ponder the latest twists and turns in the Middle East peace 'roadmap'.
Europe will insist that any plan to allow Israel to hold onto territory captured in 1967 must be with the consent of the Palestinians.
Washington on Wednesday backed Israel’s intentions to hold on to Arab land occupied 37 years ago and to deny the right of return to Palestinian refugees.
The EU has responded with cautious criticism to US support for Israel’s moves to evacuate Jewish settlements from Gaza but to keep control of the West Bank.
Washington's argument that it is “unrealistic” to ask Israel to withdraw to pre-1967 boundaries has provoked condemnation from Palestinians - and breaks with the EU diplomatic orthodoxy.
EU leaders meeting on March 25 “renewed commitment to a negotiated agreement... based on the borders of 1967”.
Discussions begin on Friday lunchtime with discussion on the future of Kosovo after recent inter-ethnic violence.
Ministers then move on to consider events in Iraq and the Middle East.
On Saturday talks begin with a general discussion on "effective multilateralism" in the context of an international debate about the future of the UN.
Meetings then start at lunch with between EU and foreign ministers from Southeast Asia.
The Asian countries - joined by China, Japan and South Korea - are expected to criticise the EU for excluding Burma/Myanmar from an October summit on the basis of human rights abuses.
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