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Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, whose country currently chairs the EU Council: "At one of our next ministerial meetings we would have to discuss what consequences the EU would draw from that."
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PRAGUE/BRUSSELS (EJP)---For the second time this month, the European Union has warned Israel's incoming new government that there would be "consequences" if it does not accept the principle of a two-state solution in the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
"Relations would become very difficult indeed," Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, told journalists on Friday at an informal working lunch meeting of the 27 EU Foreign Ministers at Hluboka castle in southern Bohemia.
"At one of our next ministerial meetings we would have to discuss what consequences the EU would draw from that," the minister added, without elaborating.
According to diplomztic sources, the plan to formally upgrade trade and political EU-Israel relations, decided last year, could be in jeopardy.
Israel's Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the Likud party, plans to present his new government to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, next week, following the Labour party's decision to join his coalition, which includes other right-wing and religious parties.
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EU Commission president José Manuel Barroso:’The European Commission is looking forward to working with the new Israeli government in pursuit of a common agenda.’
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Several other EU foreign ministers judged that an Israeli government which does not accept a two-state solution would not be acceptable itself.
"We Europeans believe that the putting in place of a two-state solution remains the plan," said German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
"The Foreign Ministers must send a clear message saying that if this is not the case, the EU cannot accept it," added Luxembourg's Jean Asselborn.
He said that upgrading of EU-Israeli ties largely depends on Israel achieving a peace deal with the Palestinians.
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The informal meeting of the 27 EU Foreign Ministers, which takes place in the Czech Republic, is known as 'Gymnich' in EU jargon, after the German castle where it was first held in 1974.
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"We must tell the Israelis that it is not allowed to walk away from the peace process. The upgrading process was always to be viewed from the perspective of the peace process having been completed."
EU Commission President
European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said earlier this week that the European Commission would support the new Israeli government as long as it accepts certain benchmarks, including the principle of an autonomous Palestinian state.
"The European Commission is looking forward to working with the new Israeli government in pursuit of a common agenda," he said in a message to Benjamin Netanyahu.
"It stands ready to assist and support you in your search for peace, prosperity and security for the people in Israel and the region, based on the vision of two states living side by side in peace and prosperity," Barroso said in his message.