European Union leaders will discuss the controversial Gaza Peace Board, proposed by US President Donald Trump, during an extraordinary summit on Greenland.
Some warn that this board's initiative could be seen as an attempt to replace the role of the United Nations.
Europe faces a delicate balancing act, trying to manage relations with Trump over Greenland, while simultaneously dealing with the wave of invitations to other countries to join the Board.
The question of whether the EU and its member states should accept participation in this board, originally created to administer Gaza after the war, will be one of the main topics of discussion during the summit, which was called in response to Trump's recent threats of tariffs.
European diplomats worry that the Gaza Peace Board issue is becoming intertwined with the Greenland crisis, forcing them to coordinate on whether to accept their countries' participation - a move that could anger the US president at a time when tensions have reached high levels.
Permanent membership on the board costs 1 billion US dollars, which, at least officially, is earmarked for the reconstruction of Gaza.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as well as several EU governments, including France, Germany, Italy and Italy, have been offered a seat on this board.
France has made it clear that it has no intention of joining the Board, because its charter – which does not mention Gaza – raises doubts about the “principles and structure of the United Nations” and gives the board’s chairman, Donald Trump, “broad powers.”
In response, Trump has threatened to impose a 200 percent tariff on French wine and champagne, a clear signal that the issue could turn into another conflict in EU-US relations.
Speaking to Euronews in Davos on Tuesday, Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot accused Trump of trying to "replace the United Nations system" with "his personal board."
A New World Order?
The broad mandate that Trump appears to be giving the Board, coupled with the lack of focus on war-torn Gaza and its future, is worrying officials in Brussels.
Officials and diplomats have privately expressed serious concerns about the board's composition, selection process, mandate and governance structure, calling for the focus to be shifted to Gaza, rather than creating a Security Council parallel to the UN.
Meanwhile, a Palestinian technocratic committee has been tasked with Gaza's day-to-day affairs, but there are concerns about the lack of Palestinian representation on the board's two top panels, which oversee investment, diplomacy and governance.
The European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, who oversees EU policy on Gaza, has called for the "involvement of all key actors" on board.
Trump has also sent an invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin, a development that makes Europe's participation politically complicated.
The debate on the board is expected to highlight existing divisions between EU member states in the field of foreign policy.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has already accepted his seat, while his Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said the prime minister feels "honored" by Trump's offer.
What is the Gaza Peace Board to which Kosovo was invited?
The American leader has formed an advisory body for Gaza, known as the Peace Board, as part of the second phase of the ceasefire reached between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
This board includes world leaders who provide advice and support in negotiations, but does not have international executive power like the United Nations (UN).
The Peace Board's goal is to support peace and stability in the region through dialogue and international cooperation.
Essentially, this is a diplomatic initiative of Trump, designed as an advisory board that influences negotiations and ceasefires, involving leaders from different countries to help stabilize the region.
Invitations to participate have also included Kosovo and Albania.
Kosovo will be represented by President Vjosa Osmani, while Albania will be represented by Prime Minister Edi Rama. /Telegraph/
