Date of release : 01-03-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

The Luxembourg Presidency of the European Union will receive the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas on 2 March in Brussels.

The Palestinian President will meet with the Prime Minister and current President of the European Council, Jean-Claude Juncker, and with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and current President of the Council of the European Union, Jean Asselborn.

The discussions will focus on the relations between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority.

Following the London meeting on 1 March, the two parties will also consider the contribution of the international community to the strengthening of the Palestinian institutions.

The understandings reached at Charm-el-Sheik on 8 February will also be addressed, in particular in the light of the announced Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and certain parts of the West Bank.