EU leaders meet to progress road map for peace as Arafat fades

EU plans to reinvigorate the Middle East peace process were overshadowed by the news that the Palestinian president Yassar Arafat was seriously ill in a Paris hospital last night.

The 25 EU leaders meeting in Brussels last night and today will discuss a four-pronged initiative in an effort to further the road map designed to create a two state solution with a viable Palestine existing side by side with Israel.

They have been keeping in close contact with members of the Palestinian Authority (PA), with whom they have good relations, not least because the EU is almost single handedly funding the upkeep of the Palestinians.

The moves include:

Security cooperation with the PA, to guarantee law and order when Israeli forces pull out of Gaza.

Encouragement for institutional reforms at the PA.

More economic aid to the Palestinians, buttressing the EU's position as their leading aid donor.

Support for local elections planned for next month, and for presidential elections which must take place 60 days after a vacancy is declared.

Mr Arafat's death comes at a time when the EU is desperately trying to find ways to move the situation in the Middle East and to be counted as a player in world affairs.

The return of the Bush administration to the White House, an issue also under discussion, threatens to make this more difficult.

However, they see the role three EU countries France, Germany and Britain is playing in trying to resolve the Iran difficulty as potentially giving them a real say in the region alongside the US.

A high-level meeting in Paris today, between political directors from the three with Iranian officials, will discuss a three point plan aimed at stopping Iran enriching uranium capable of being used in nuclear bombs.

The plan will propose that the Iranians would not have full mastery of the full cycle of enrichment, having the process completed by one of the three negotiating countries; resuming EU trade and cooperation agreement negotiations and giving undertakings on the political/security area.

This last one will require US input to agree not to bring the Iran issue to the UN Security Council and to restrain Israel from threatening to take military action against Iran.

The EU would also hope to enlist the aid of the Russians, who are helping with the construction of the enrichment plants in Iran.

While the US has not been actively helpful in the dialogue with Iran, sources in the European Commission said that at least they have not been obstructionist.

The interim prime minister of Iraq, Iyad Allawi, will have lunch with the leaders in Brussels today also. The EU is presenting him with a comprehensive package of assistance that includes the outline of a trade and political co-operation agreement and help with high level training of police officials and judges.

Relations between Mr Allawi and France in particular are expected to be strained following the American backed Prime Minister's attack on that country last weekend.