Abbas urges Ashton to enforce EU regulations against settlements

Mahmoud Abbas has urged the European Union to enforce its regulations against Israeli companies based in the illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The Palestinian president made his plea when he briefed the EU’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on the latest developments in the ongoing peace talks with Israel.

During the meeting in Brussels, Abbas stressed to the British peer how important it is for the EU to take action in line with its own regulations from January 2014 as scheduled. He praised the EU’s stance on settlements, describing it as compliant with international law and legitimacy.

Joining President Abbas at the meeting were PLO Executive Committee member Saeb Erekat, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Al-Malki, presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh and advisor for diplomatic affairs Majdi Al-Khalidi, as well as the Palestinian delegate to the EU, Leila Shahid.