Foreign ministers to meet for Lebanon crisis session

EU foreign ministers will meet for an emergency session in Brussels next week, as diplomats try to find ways to end violence on the Israeli-Lebanese border.

Despite warnings from diplomats that ministers might be unable to achieve a meaningful common position, the Finnish presidency has decided to call the meeting, which may be held informally.

Some smaller EU member states, including Finland, Portugal, Sweden and Denmark, are keen that ministers meet again to discuss the crisis, which is now entering its third week, in order to forge a common position as international diplomatic efforts enter the next stage.

But a number of member states fear that the meeting could merely serve to highlight the divisions that exist within the EU. Officials warned that if progress on reconciling these divisions appears improbable then turnout will be poor, with ministers failing to attend.

Some officials, however, expressed hope that yesterday's (26 July) meeting in Rome, at which the international community failed to agree on what the next steps should be, will spur the EU to put divisions aside.

Disagreements among EU members are mostly over the Union's role in finding a solution to the conflict and the need for an immediate ceasefire.

The UK, Germany and the Czech Republic broadly backed the US position to give Israel some leeway to continue attacks. They called for a plan for how to deal with Hizbullah before any ceasefire is agreed.

Others, focusing on the humanitarian situation in Lebanon, have called for an immediate ceasefire.

Attention is now set to turn to the EU's role in the next stage of the diplomatic process.

One senior official from an EU state said: "There is a need for a united EU standpoint, there should be some role in pressing for UN action and discussing in concrete terms the international force."

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja is expected to brief his colleagues on his visit to the region which begins today (Thursday 27 July). He will be joined by External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

Their visit will focus on the humanitarian situation in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, if the security situation allows.

The pair will hold talks with the Israeli ministers of defence and foreign affairs as well as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, in an effort to open routes for humanitarian assistance.

A trip to Lebanon is planned, as well as a visit to the Palestinian territories. There Ferrero-Waldner hopes to see the EU-designed temporary international mechanism in operation. The mechanism provides financial assistance to essential services that are normally paid for by the government, such as providing fuel for hospitals.

The project continues to pose difficulties for the Commission and no agreement has yet been reached by the international community on proposals to pay allowances to health workers or the poorest families with the mechanism.

EU foreign ministers will meet for an emergency session in Brussels next week, as diplomats try to find ways to end violence on the Israeli-Lebanese border.