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European Parliament Delegation for relations with Palestine

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European Parliament Delegation for relations with Palestine (DPAL)
European Parliament
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Chair
Lynn Boylan, The left
since 30 September 2024
Structure
Seats25 (currently)[1]
Political groups
  S&D (6)
  Renew (4)
  The Left (4)
  ECR (4)
  Verts/ALE (4)
  PfE (1)
  PPE (1)
  NI (1)
Length of term
5 years
Website
Official website

The Delegation for Relations with Palestine (DPAL) is an official delegation of the European Parliament responsible for maintaining parliamentary relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC).[2] The delegation plays a key role in promoting the European Union’s commitment to a two-state solution in the region.[3]

DPAL is part of the European Parliament's broader framework for international parliamentary cooperation and is composed of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from various political groups and member states.[4]

History

[edit]

The European Parliament's engagement with the Palestinian people began in November 1993, shortly after the signing of the Oslo Accords between the Government of Israel and the PLO. In response, the Parliament created an ad hoc delegation to manage relations with the Palestinian leadership.[5]

Following the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority in 1994, the Parliament formalized its engagement by establishing a standing delegation, officially titled the "Delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council (DPLC)", on 12 December 1996.[6]

On 9 September 2015, the delegation was renamed the "Delegation for relations with Palestine (DPAL)".[7] This change followed the Parliament's adoption of a resolution on 17 December 2014, expressing support in principle for the recognition of Palestinian statehood.[8]

Although political groups in the Parliament have occasionally proposed creating a single joint delegation for managing relations with both Israel and the Palestinian territories, such a proposal has not been implemented.[9]

From 1999, the delegation was chaired by Italian MEP Luisa Morgantini, who played a prominent role in advocating for Palestinian right of return, for which she was later incarcerated by the Israeli authorities.[10] Morgantini led missions to Gaza, condemning the siege and describing the territory as an "open-air prison".[11]

In 2004, Cypriot MEP Adamos Adamou succeeded Morgantini as chair, serving until 2009. During his tenure, the delegation faced difficulties accessing Gaza, particularly after the 2008–2009 Gaza conflict.[12] Israeli authorities began blocking DPAL visits, citing security concerns. These restrictions intensified in subsequent years, with delegations repeatedly denied entry to Gaza, compelling the delegation to meet Palestinian representatives primarily in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.[13]

The delegation’s chairs throughout the 2010s, including Kyriacos Triantaphyllides, Neoklis Sylikiotis, and later Manu Pineda, continued to highlight human rights violations and the adverse effects of the Israeli blockade on Gaza.[14] In response, Israeli authorities increasingly barred individual members from entry due to their activism or association with pro-Palestinian initiatives such as flotillas aiming to break the blockade.[15]

In May 2022, Chair Manu Pineda was officially denied entry into Israel ahead of a planned delegation visit to investigate the killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, sparking protests from, Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament.[16][17] Similar denials followed in 2023, with another delegation member, Ana Miranda Paz, deported despite prior approval, due to her participation in freedom flotillas.[18]

Similarly, In early 2025 when Chair Lynn Boylan and fellow MEP Rima Hassan were denied entry at Ben Gurion Airport, leading to the cancellation of the delegation’s mission.[19] This action, including the confiscation of diplomatic passports and phones, was condemned by the European Parliament as "a serious affront to diplomatic norms" and the EU’s role in the Middle East peace process.[20][21]

Members

[edit]

As of the current term, the Delegation consists of 14 full members and 11 substitute members. It is chaired by Lynn Boylan (The Left, Ireland), with Barry Andrews (Renew, Ireland) serving as First Vice-Chair, and Matjaž Nemec (S&D, Slovenia) as Second Vice-Chair.

Current members
Member Role European parliamentary group Country National party/alliance
Lynn Boylan Chair The Left in the European Parliament  Ireland Sinn Féin
Barry Andrews Vice-Chair Renew Europe  Ireland Fianna Fáil
Matjaž Nemec Vice-Chair Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats  Slovenia Socialni demokrati
Maravillas Abadía Member European People's Party Group  Spain Partido Popular
Galato Alexandraki Member European Conservatives and Reformists Group  Greece Greek Solution
Jaume Asens Member Greens–European Free Alliance  Spain Movimiento Sumar
Adrian-George Axinia Member European Conservatives and Reformists Group  Romania Alianța pentru Unirea Românilor
Annalisa Corrado Member Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats  Italy Partito Democratico
Rima Hassan Member The Left in the European Parliament  France La France Insoumise
Pierre Jouvet Member Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats  France Parti socialiste
Irena Joveva Member Renew Europe  Slovenia Gibanje Svoboda
Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos Member NI  Greece Communist Party of Greece
Villy Søvndal Member Greens–European Free Alliance  Denmark Socialistisk Folkeparti
Matthieu Valet Member Patriots for Europe  France Rassemblement national
Substitute
Alex Agius Saliba Substitute Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats  Malta Partit Laburista
Marc Botenga Substitute The Left in the European Parliament  Belgium PVDA-PTB
Sigrid Friis Frederiksen Substitute Renew Europe  Denmark Det Radikale Venstre
Ana Miranda Paz Substitute Greens-European Free Alliance  Spain Bloque Nacionalista Galego
Irene Montero Substitute The Left in the European Parliament  Spain PODEMOS
Leoluca Orlando Substitute Greens-European Free Alliance  Italy Independent
Elena Sancho Murillo Substitute Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats  Spain Partido Socialista Obrero Español
Antonella Sberna Substitute European Conservatives and Reformists Group  Italy Fratelli d'Italia
Cecilia Strada Substitute Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats  Italy Partito Democratico
Francesco Ventola Substitute European Conservatives and Reformists Group  Italy Fratelli d'Italia
Lucia Yar Substitute Renew Europe  Slovakia Progresívne Slovensko
Source

List of Chairs

[edit]
Parliament Term start Term end Office holder Nationality European Parliament Group Post in Parliament Source
Fifth 20 July 1999[a] 19 July 2004 Luisa Morgantini  Italy The Left Vice president of the European Parliament (2007-2009)
Chair of the Committee on Development (2004–2006)
Subcommittee on Human Rights		 [22]
Sixth 20 September 2004 14 March 2007 Adamos Adamou  Cyprus Member of the Committee on Regional Development [23]
21 March 2007 13 July 2009 Kyriacos Triantaphyllides  Cyprus Member of the Committee on Regional Development; delegations to EU–Australia/New Zealand and Euro-Mediterranean [24]
Seventh 16 September 2009 1 February 2012 Proinsias De Rossa  Ireland S&D Member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs [25]
Eighth 13 October 2014 29 January 2017 Martina Anderson  United Kingdom EPP Member of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs [26]
30 January 2017 1 July 2019 Neoklis Sylikiotis  Cyprus The Left Substitute in ACP‑EU & Mediterranean delegations [27]
Ninth 26 September 2019 15 July 2024 Manu Pineda  Spain Shadow rapporteur in AFET [28]
Tenth 30 September 2024 Incumbent Lynn Boylan  Ireland Member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety [29]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Left office - 14 January 2002;
    Reassumed office - 7 February 2002

References

[edit]
  1. ^ www.europarl.europa.eu/delegations/en/dpal/members
  2. ^ "Extraordinary Visit by EP Delegation for relations with the PLC to Ramallah, Gaza and Jerusalem – Draft report/Non-UN document". United Nations. 13 February 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  3. ^ "A visit by a European Parliamentary delegation to Palestine canceled after it was blocked by Israel". Wafa. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  4. ^ "European Parliament's Palestine delegation chair urges governments to listen to their people". Andalou Agency. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  5. ^ "EU in Israel and the Palestinian Territories". eubam-rafah.eu. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  6. ^ Yoav Shemer-Kunz (16 February 2017). The Diplomatic Role of the European Parliament’s Political Groups in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Brill Publishers. pp. 76–98. ISBN 978-90-04-33634-6. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  7. ^ "MEP calls for evaluating Israeli activities in Palestinian territories". Kuwait News Agency. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  8. ^ "European Parliament resolution on recognition of Palestine statehood". europarl.europa.eu. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  9. ^ "(PDF) 2024-2029 Welcome to DPAL Delegation for relations with Palestine" (PDF). European Parliament. May 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  10. ^ "Israeli Occupation Forces Arrest Former EU Parliament VP, Luisa Morgantini, in Masafer Yatta". Safa Press Agency. 30 January 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  11. ^ "European Parliament delegation witnesses Gaza destruction – EU press release/Non-UN document". United Nations The Question of Palestine. 30 October 2006. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  12. ^ "Joint motion for a resolution RC-B6-0588/2006". European Parliament. 15 November 2006. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  13. ^ "European Parliament's delegation cancels trip after MEP barred from entering Israel". Euro News. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  14. ^ "European lawmaker accuses Israel of deliberately targeting journalists in Gaza". Andalou Agency. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Freedom Flotillas: A history of attempts to break Israel's siege of Gaza". Aljazeera. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Israel blocks EU delegation from entering occupied Palestinian territories". Radio Habana Cuba. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  17. ^ "Israel blocks Spanish MEP from 'diplomatic visit' to Palestine". The New Arab. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  18. ^ "Israel denies entry to Spanish EU MP on diplomatic mission to Palestine for 'BDS support'". The New Arab. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  19. ^ "2 MEPs denied entry to Israel". Politico. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  20. ^ "Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan refused entry to Israel while travelling with EU delegation". Irish Independent. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  21. ^ "European Parliament delegation members denied entry to Israel in controversial move". Andalou Agency. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  22. ^ "Luisa MORGANTINI - Italy - 5th parliamentary term". europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  23. ^ "Adamos ADAMOU - Cyprus - 6th parliamentary term". europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  24. ^ "Kyriacos TRIANTAPHYLLIDES - Cyprus - 6th parliamentary term". europal.europa.eu. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  25. ^ "Proinsias DE ROSSA - Ireland - 7th parliamentary term". europal.europa.eu. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  26. ^ "Martina ANDERSON - United Kingdom - 8th parliamentary term". europal.europa.eu. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  27. ^ "Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS - Cyprus - 8th parliamentary term". europal.europa.eu. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  28. ^ "Manu PINEDA - Spain - 9th parliamentary term". europal.europa.eu. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  29. ^ "Lynn BOYLAN - Ireland - 10th parliamentary term". europal.europa.eu. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
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