The European Union has pledged to take on a major role in planned talks on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and urged Israel for further steps on commitments made to the Palestinian government.

The EU "stands ready to play an active role" in an international Middle East peace conference in autumn proposed by the United States and backed by Middle East mediators last week, EU foreign ministers said in a statement on Monday after a meeting in Brussels.

EU top diplomat Javier Solana said that the idea of such a conference had always been in the mind of the EU and that the bloc was "completely in favor of it."

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told reporters that the meeting would be an opportunity to draw conclusions "on how we can move ahead on the way to a two-state solution."

While EU foreign chiefs welcomed Israel's recent move to release 255 Palestinian prisoners and the partial transfer of Palestinian tax and custom revenues, they called for "the immediate, complete and regular release of the remaining and future funds."

The EU-27 also urged Israel "to take further steps to meet the commitments" towards the Palestinians, including a removal of checkpoints and barriers in the West Bank.

Full support for Abbas

Ministers confirmed the EU's "full support" for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Like the US, the EU has pledged to improve the clout and standing of Abbas and his moderate Fatah movement.


"Reconciliation and national unity behind the program of peace articulated by President Abbas are the only way to achieve Palestinian national goals by peaceful, lawful and democratic means," ministers said.

"The EU opposes any division of the Palestinian Territories and confirms its readiness to engage with all Palestinian parties whose policy and actions reflect the [Middle East] Quartet principles," they said.

Members of the Quartet last week said they would not talk to Hamas, repeating that the militant group -- which has seized control of the Gaza Strip from Abbas' forces -- must first recognize Israel's right to exist, renounce terrorism and sign up to past agreements with Israel.

Funds still unreleased

EU ministers said that the bloc was committed "to help build the institutions and economy of the future Palestinian state."

Unlike Washington, the EU has yet to release millions of dollars in direct aid to the Fatah-led Palestinian government. The funds were frozen after last year's Hamas electoral victory. The militant group is black-listed as a terrorist organization by the EU and the US.

The EU has, however, been channeling aid for the Palestinian health and security sector through non-governmental aid groups.

Ministers also said that the engagement of Arab countries was "a major element in moving the Middle East peace process forward."