European Union leaders have publicly questioned the design and reach of US President Donald Trump's newly launched "Board of Peace", warning that key aspects of the initiative may clash with existing international frameworks, while also leaving room for limited cooperation.
Speaking after an EU summit in Brussels on Friday, European Council President Antonio Costa said member states were unconvinced by several provisions in the body’s founding document. He highlighted unresolved issues around the board’s authority, its decision-making structure, and whether it aligns with the principles set out in the United Nations Charter.
Despite those misgivings, Costa said the bloc is prepared to engage with Washington in efforts to stabilise Gaza, provided the new body functions as a temporary administrative mechanism within a broader peace initiative. Any collaboration, he stressed, would be conditional on clarity around the board’s remit and its relationship with existing international institutions.
The Board of Peace, unveiled by President Trump earlier this week, is described by its backers as a mechanism for managing post-conflict reconstruction and resolving international disputes. The charter of the Board of Peace establishes a permanent membership fee of $1 billion, a figure that has garnered significant attention in European capitals.
While the project was initially framed as a vehicle to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction, EU officials say the text of the charter appears to give the board a far wider role. Critics argue that the absence of clear geographic limits suggests ambitions that could overlap—or even challenge— the United Nations’ traditional functions.
Diverging national responses within the EU have already emerged. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez confirmed that Madrid had declined an invitation to join the initiative, reflecting broader unease among some member states.
Trump formally presented the Board of Peace on Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where representatives from 19 countries joined him to endorse the charter. However, several of Washington’s closest allies have reacted cautiously.
British officials have raised concerns over the inclusion of Russian President Vladimir Putin, citing Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine following its full-scale invasion in 2022. France has gone further, warning that the current version of the charter conflicts with Paris’s international obligations, particularly those tied to its role within the United Nations.
As discussions continue, EU leaders say they will assess the proposal on its merits, balancing diplomatic engagement with what they describe as a firm commitment to the existing international order.
