Christophe Bigot has been appointed as new EU Special Representative (EUSR) for the Middle East Peace Process.
Bigot’s mandate, says the EU, will be to contribute to the EU objective of having a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
A council spokesman said this is “on the basis of a two-State solution, with Israel and a democratic, contiguous, viable, peaceful and sovereign Palestinian State living side by side within secure and recognised borders.”
The tasks of the new EUSR will be -among others- to facilitate and maintain close contacts with all the parties to the peace process.
Bigot will work with all stakeholders closely in strengthening the peace process, says the EU.
Bigot served as Director of Africa and Indian Ocean in the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and Director of Strategy for the DGSE (French Foreign Intelligence Agency).
Between 2009 and 2013, he served as Ambassador of the Republic of France to Israel, and from 2016 to 2019 to Senegal and Gambia. He has worked for the United Nations, UNESCO and other international organisations
Meanwhile, with a reported famine engulfing Gaza, and the Israeli army beginning extensive new ground operations in Gaza, the Greens have now demanded that the European Union “immediately applies sanctions against the Israeli government without delay.”
Ciarán Cuffe, co-chair of the European Green Party said:
“The use of starvation as a weapon of war, the relentless bombardment, the deliberate targeting of civilians, and the systematic destruction of vital infrastructure constitute grave violations of international law. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must be held accountable for what amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
EGP co-chair Vula Tsetsi added:
“The EU should show itself as a staunch defender of human rights and international norms. Europe cannot remain passive in the face of such horrendous atrocities.
“Moreover, the ongoing military escalation is not serving the cause of the hostages, whose situation is becoming more precarious by the day. Their immediate and unconditional release must be demanded, alongside a halt to all attacks on civilians,”
the MEP added.
