In 48 hours, on the upcoming May 28, Spain, Ireland, and Norway are set to formally recognize a Palestinian state. This move comes as Israel accelerates a military offensive in the Gaza Strip, a campaign that Spain’s defense minister Margarita Robles described as a true genocide during Armed Forces Day. On the eve of the decision, Spain’s foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares is scheduled to meet in Brussels with the Palestinian prime minister and foreign minister, Mohamed Mustafa, to discuss the matter.
The meeting leads into a gathering of the EU’s foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, together with several Arab diplomats who will be present. Before that session, Albares will also hold talks with his counterparts from Ireland, Micheal Martin, and Norway, Espen Garth Eide, during a joint press conference intended to present a united position to persuade other EU members to follow suit. In March, alongside Spain and Ireland, Slovenia and Malta also signed a letter backing recognition. Belgium has shown willingness to recognize a Palestinian state as well, though it has indicated that the moment is not yet right for taking that step.
News of the recognition from Spain, Ireland, and Norway drew strong reactions in Israel. Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz condemned the move, arguing it would record the praise of those who assault and violate Hamas. He framed the step as a direct threat to Israel, which he views as a vital national security concern.
National stance
At present, nine European Union member states recognize the Palestinian state. Most of them did so more than three decades ago, in 1988, following the Palestinian National Council’s unilateral declaration of independence when these countries were part of the Soviet sphere. Bulgaria, Cyprus, Slovakia, Hungary, Malta, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania fall into this group. Sweden was the latest member to join, doing so in 2014 while a member of the EU.
Since then, despite broad support among EU members for a two-state solution as a path to peace, no other EU country has formally recognized a Palestinian state. Some see the act as symbolic or political, driven by internal politics. The decision is expected to be discussed in the EU foreign ministers’ meeting on Monday, where a review of the Middle East situation will be on the agenda. Arab foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, along with the secretary-general of the Arab League, will attend to discuss a regional peace proposal.
Diplomatic sources from Sweden note that recognition remains a national choice. It is described as a matter of national prerogative and not something the European Union as a whole intervenes in. While opinions vary among EU member states on recognition, there is broad agreement that a two-state outcome remains the only viable path toward peace in the region.
Observers emphasize that while the EU’s official stance supports a two-state solution, national decisions on recognition reflect each country’s internal politics. The EU’s discussion will continue with regional actors offering perspectives on how such moves might influence regional dynamics, while stressing that the recognition itself is not expected to drive specific regional actions. The goal cited by many is not to alter ongoing discussions but to reinforce a shared commitment to a peaceful, negotiated settlement that addresses the core concerns of Israelis and Palestinians alike.