The Council discussed the Middle East Peace Process in the light of a report by EU Special Envoy Mr Moratinos. It welcomed the recent signing of the Protocol on implementation of Israeli redeployment in Hebron as an important step towards full implementation of the Interim Agreement and the start of Final Status negotiations. The Council recalled the letter of assurances from the Council President to President Arafat, stating that the European Union would use all its political and moral weight to ensure full implementation of the Agreements already reached and continue its active role in promoting and strengthening the Peace Process. The Council welcomed the role which the EU Special Envoy Mr Moratinos was able to play, in close coordination with the USA in its crucial role as facilitator, in promoting this outcome. The Council underlined the importance of using the momentum created by the Hebron agreement in order to achieve progress as soon as possible in the Syrian and Lebanese Tracks to the Peace Process and to revitalise the Multilateral Track. The Council also emphasised the urgency of improving the Palestinian social and economic situation.

Following the informal meeting with Mr Rafic HARIRI, the Prime Minister of Lebanon, the Council reaffirmed that the EU was willing to help with the reconstruction of that country. In this context it had entrusted its competent bodies with preparing a response to the recent approach made by the United States concerning the consultative group for the reconstruction of Lebanon together with the arrangements for a conference that might be held with the same objective in mind. The Council took note of the presidency report on the recent visits that the Troika had made to Cairo , Amman and Beirut and of the very strong desire expressed by those met during this trip for a greater European role in the peace process. With a view to the forthcoming discussions to be held at the Florence European Council on the subject of the peace process in the Middle East, the Council had asked its various departments to examine the line of action to be followed by the European Union and to report back in time for its next meeting on 10 and 11 June.