Last night the European Union again failed to present a Common Foreign Policy with regards to Palestine. Following on from last years split on the admission to UNESCO, the EU split on upgrading Palestine from being an “nonmember observer entity” to “nonmember observer state” at the United Nations. Bringing it to the same level as the Vatican City in the UN System.
See how the EU Split in the UNESCO Vote
While overall the UN General Assembly vote was 138 Yes, 9 No and 41 Abstentions, this time round the EU Split 14 Yes, 1 No and 12 Abstentions. They were as follows (countries in Italic changed vote since 2011):
Countries Voting Yes
- Austria
- Belgium
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Greece
- Ireland
- Italy
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Portugal
- Spain
- Sweden
Country Voting No
- Czech Republic
Countries Abstaining:
- Bulgaria
- Estonia
- Germany
- Hungary
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- United Kingdom
Again Some Common Policy? Its interesting to note that most countries softened there positions. Italy, Denmark and Portugal went from Abstain to Yes. Germany, Netherlands and Lithuania went from No to Abstain. Sweden did a straight switch from No to Yes.
Slovenia was the only country to change from a Yes vote and Abstained.
This vote shows that the Czech Republic is the only country still out-rightly opposed to the recognition of Palestine in International Bodies for the moment.
Of course what this vote really shows is the utter shambles that is the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy is when it comes to Palestine.
At the end of the day, I am delighted that Palestine is now the 194th country recognised by the United Nations.
See how your country voted here
Related articles
- Map: How Europe voted on Palestine at the U.N., in 2011 and now (washingtonpost.com)
- EU backs Palestinian state even if split on UN vote (expatica.com)
- Palestine’s United Nations bid (jaypinho.com)
- EU statement fails to hide division on Palestine (euobserver.com)
- Palestine as observer member at the United Nations (europeinside.org)
- A new status of Palestine (sarasdiaries.wordpress.com)
