EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen invited to Trump’s Gaza reconstruction board

Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) January 19, 2026 – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen received an invitation to join US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” tasked with overseeing Gaza reconstruction and demilitarisation efforts. Commission spokesperson Olof Gill confirmed von der Leyen is consulting European leaders on the proposal following formal diplomatic notification. The board chaired by Trump includes figures like former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and aims to coordinate humanitarian aid economic recovery Palestinian technocratic administration support.

Trump announced the board January 15 as part of a 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan endorsed by UN Security Council with Russia and China abstaining. Invitations extended to Russia Thailand Turkey Egypt Argentina UAE alongside EU represent broader global engagement vision beyond initial Gaza focus reconstruction funding capital mobilisation governance capacity-building regional relations stabilisation.

Trump board of peace gaza reconstruction mandate announcement

President Trump introduced Board of Peace January 15 World Economic Forum Davos characterising “Greatest Most Prestigious Board ever assembled” overseeing Gaza demilitarisation reconstruction humanitarian assistance Palestinian technocratic administration support. Board executive 11 members includes Tony Blair Jared Kushner Marco Rubio Steve Witkoff Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan Qatari diplomat Thai representative UN envoy Sigrid Kaag UAE Minister Reem Al Hashimy Israeli Cypriot Yakir Gabay documentation.

20-point ceasefire plan second phase stipulates board coordination large funding capital mobilisation Gaza post-conflict recovery devastated two-year Israel-Hamas conflict humanitarian crisis addressing governance vacuum creation. Trump Truth Social post confirmed membership announcements coming weeks board charter outlining durable peace practical judgment sensible solutions traditional methods institutions shortcomings address execution.

Von der leyen invitation consultation european leaders

Commission spokesperson Olof Gill January 19 briefing confirmed von der Leyen received invitation close contact European leaders assessment EU participation appropriateness strategic interests alignment documentation. Invitation represents Trump administration recognition EU largest Gaza donor Mediterranean neighbour regional stability stakeholder representation board fair play Dubravka Šuica Commissioner Mediterranean earlier statement.

Šuica November 2025 Euronews interview advocated EU seat board biggest donor player closest neighbour reconstruction efforts Palestinian Authority empowerment tax revenues release Israeli commitments two-state solution trajectory support coordination. EU official anonymous confirmation ongoing US talks European representation foreign ministers Brussels meeting January 20 discussions expected Gaza donor group co-chairing Mohammad Mustafa Palestinian Prime Minister focus PA services Gaza transition execution.

Russia thailand turkey egypt invitations confirmations

Russian President Vladimir Putin received invitation Dmitry Peskov spokesperson routine briefing confirmation Kremlin assessing further US information acquisition diplomatic channels documentation. Putin participation Trump Board of Peace significant geopolitical signalling Russia UN Security Council Gaza plan abstention Syria Ukraine mediation precedents recall execution.

Turkey Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan Egypt President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi Argentina President Javier Milei confirmed invitations respective communications official statements regional powers representation board reconstruction coordination documentation. Thailand invitation Southeast Asia engagement signal broader global conflict resolution mandate Gaza initial focus expansion potential execution.

Board charter broader global conflicts mandate outline

Diplomatic sources Reuters charter accompanies invitations outlining broader mission beyond Gaza Trump United Nations principles divergence global disputes resolution bold approach documentation. Charter durable peace practical judgment sensible solutions methods institutions frequent shortcomings address Trump administration statement initial Gaza concentration reconstruction economic recovery humanitarian assistance coordination Palestinian administration support execution.

Board chaired lifetime Trump three-year member terms permanent spots $1 billion contribution reports Dawn News confirmation countries payment requests verification ongoing diplomatic communications transparency execution. UN Security Council endorsement Russia China abstentions legitimacy conferral multilateral engagement pathway reconstruction donor coordination Gulf countries American administration involvement Commissioner Šuica statement.

EU mediterranean commissioner Suica earlier advocacy

Dubravka Šuica EU Commissioner Mediterranean November 18 2025 Euronews Europe Conversation advocated EU board seat fair play biggest donor player closest neighbour representation. Šuica portfolio Palestinian territories support emphasised reconstruction Europe alone Gulf countries American administration necessity coordination Palestinian Authority services Gaza transition empowerment tax revenues Israeli release commitments two-state solution articulation.

Šuica Mohammad Mustafa Palestinian Prime Minister co-chair Palestine Donor Group 60 international delegations Europe Middle East attendance PA capacity-building West Bank Gaza services takeover demonstration Israeli commitments coordination. EU member states diverging Gaza war positions decision-making hindering bloc response Palestinian state recognition facilitation reconstruction collective donor commitments execution.

UN security council gaza plan endorsement context

UN Security Council endorsed Trump 20-point Gaza plan vote Russia China abstaining legitimacy conferral reconstruction donor coordination multilateral framework establishment documentation. Board Gaza ceasefire second phase component demilitarisation reconstruction economic recovery humanitarian assistance technocratic Palestinian administration support coordination execution.

Trump characterised board powerful respected leaders assembly Tony Blair explicit 20-point plan mention founding executive member Jared Kushner Marco Rubio Steve Witkoff regional representatives inclusion global stakeholder engagement documentation. Board formation American initiative UN support demilitarisation rebuild devastated Gaza two-year conflict humanitarian crisis addressing governance capacity regional relations stabilisation funding capital mobilisation coordination execution.

Palestine donor group reconstruction transition focus

Šuica Mustafa co-chair Palestine Donor Group Thursday transition Gaza post-war future PA empowerment services West Bank Gaza takeover demonstration Israeli tax revenues release commitments coordination. Group 60 delegations Europe Middle East attendance EU reconstruction efforts coordination Gulf countries American administration involvement necessity statement.

PA Fatah-led governing body occupied West Bank parts oversight Gaza future transition focus EU financial political support demonstration Israeli commitments articulation reconstruction Europe cannot alone regional global coordination imperative execution.

Trump administration invitations flurry global leaders

Trump administration weekend invitations flurry world leaders Board of Peace marketed Gaza reconstruction economic recovery humanitarian assistance coordination Palestinian administration support initial mandate broader global conflicts resolution vision documentation. Permanent spots $1 billion contribution Washington Post reports verification diplomatic sources charter Trump United Nations oversight UN charter principles divergence concerns diplomatic reactions caution execution.

Board life chairmanship Trump three-year member terms regional powers Russia Thailand Turkey Egypt Argentina UAE invitations confirmations broader mandate global disputes resolution bold approach Trump statement documentation. EU von der Leyen invitation European leaders consultation ongoing US talks representation foreign ministers Brussels discussions expected collective European interests alignment strategic assessment execution.

Commissioner suica portfolio palestinian territories support

Dubravka Šuica Mediterranean Commissioner portfolio EU Palestinian territories support reconstruction donor coordination PA empowerment transition Gaza services takeover Israeli commitments coordination. Šuica emphasised EU biggest donor player neighbour board seat fair play representation reconstruction efforts collective global engagement necessity statement.

EU official talks US European representation confirmation issue foreign ministers Brussels talks Thursday 20 November donor group co-chairing focus PA capacity-building reconstruction Europe Gulf American administration coordination execution.

Kremlin Putin invitation assessment further information

Dmitry Peskov Kremlin spokesperson routine briefing confirmed Putin diplomatic invitation Board of Peace assessment further US information acquisition ongoing documentation. Putin participation geopolitical signalling Russia UNSC Gaza plan abstention Syria Ukraine mediation precedents recall global conflict resolution engagement potential execution.

Russian Foreign Ministry coordination EU von der Leyen invitation multilateral stakeholder representation board reconstruction donor funding capital mobilisation governance regional relations stabilisation coordination execution.

Regional powers confirmations board representation roles

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi Argentina President Javier Milei UAE Minister Reem Al Hashimy confirmations regional powers board reconstruction coordination documentation. Thailand invitation Southeast Asia engagement signal global representation diversity mandate expansion beyond Gaza initial focus execution.

Board executive Tony Blair Jared Kushner Marco Rubio Steve Witkoff Hakan Fidan Qatari diplomat Thai UN Sigrid Kaag UAE Reem Israeli Cypriot Yakir Gabay composition global stakeholder engagement reconstruction humanitarian economic recovery Palestinian administration support coordination execution.

EU foreign ministers brussels discussions expected

EU foreign ministers are scheduled to convene in Brussels on January 20, 2026, amid heightened tensions over Gaza reconstruction and Palestinian representation on key governing boards. Discussions will center on consultations with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen regarding outcomes from recent donor group meetings, aiming to forge a collective European position on postwar Gaza governance. Documentation from these talks is expected to emphasize coordination of EU reconstruction efforts, with a focus on empowering the Palestinian Authority (PA) through strategic alignment among member states. Commissioner Dubravka Šuica, co-chairing the donor group, will highlight fair representation for the EU as the largest donor and regional neighbor, underscoring commitments to execution of aid programs that affirm Europe’s pivotal role.

Diverging positions among EU member states on the Gaza war continue to complicate bloc-wide decisions, particularly on Palestinian state recognition, reconstruction donor pledges, and coordination with Israeli commitments. Central and Eastern European nations often prioritize Israel’s security concerns, while southern states like Spain and Ireland push for stronger measures against Israeli actions, including potential sanctions and adherence to international humanitarian law. 

This rift hinders unified stances on facilitating a Palestinian state and articulating support for a two-state solution trajectory. Recent donor conferences, such as the November 2025 Brussels gathering co-chaired by the EU and PA Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, gathered 60 partners to bolster PA reforms under a €1.6 billion resilience program, yet exposed divisions over US-led postwar plans that risk sidelining Europe.