EU, parliamentary leaders discuss approach on international conflicts

Leaders from the European Parliament and lawmakers from EU countries met in Prague on Friday to discuss approaches to international conflicts, including the situation in the Gaza Strip. The speaker of the Czech lower house Miloslav Vlček stressed that the EU had a good reputation in areas like Gaza, but indicated that it needed to be used more effectively in diplomacy. On Friday he proposed a number of steps concerning the situation in Gaza, appealing for Israel to stop its blockade and for Palestinian representatives to return to the negotiating table.