Ramallah, January 22 (RHC)-- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is calling on the EU to officially recognize the state of Palestine during a Monday meeting with the bloc. 

According to Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki, Abbas is telling the EU that the official recognition should be taken "as a way to respond" to U.S. President Donald Trump's move to announce Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.  He also "reiterated his commitment to the peace process" in the Middle East. 

Last week, Abbas said that Trump's so-called Middle East peace efforts are the "slap of the century" after his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. 

Abbas is meeting EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini and the bloc's 28 foreign ministers on Monday.