UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - France and its European partners are considering giving formal recognition to a Palestinian state, France's UN envoy told the Security Council on Thursday. "Recognition of the state of Palestine is one of the options which France is considering, with its European partners, with a view to creating a political horizon for relaunching the peace process," French ambassador Gerard Araud told a UN Security Council debate on the Middle East. "If we retain this solution, it should favour a resumption of negotiations on the basis of well-known international parameters," Araud said. The envoy spoke just after Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas held talks with France's President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris. French FM has spoken about possible state recognition. Sarkozy hosted Mahmud Abbas in Paris on Thursday as Europe reflects more and more openly on the prospect of recognising an independent Palestine. Any French move to welcome a Palestinian state into the community of nations would be made jointly with the European Union, and would be seen as an attempt to give a jolt to the stalled ME peace process with Israel. Abbas was due at the Elysee Palace later Thursday, having said he is seeking Sarkozy's advice on the PA's drive to convince the world to accept its statehood even ahead of an ever elusive peace deal. Before the talks, Abbas told France 24 television that, while he hoped to return to talks with Israel, he thought most European governments were ready to recognise a Palestinian state come what may.