On the legal base, the Parliament wants the measure adopted as public heath and environment legislation (under the codecision procedure) rather than the Commission's plan to use article 308 of the Treaty, which allows for action at community level not specifically provided for elsewhere in the Treaty, but only with unanimity in the Council and just consultation of Parliament.
Atklājot 15. marta Eiropas Parlamenta sēdi, EP priekšsēdētājs J. Borrels atzīmēja, ka M. Abass ir viens no politiķiem, kas kopš 1970. gadiem centies panākt mieru Tuvajos Austrumos, un viņa aizbraukšana ir vēl viena zaudēta iespēja Eiropas Parlamentam.