Brussels, 16/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 16 July, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the EU delegation to Israel confirmed the adoption by the European Commission on 30 June of a note containing guidelines on the eligibility of Israeli entities - and their activity in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967 - for subsidies, prizes and instruments financed by the EU as from 2014. The Commission wants to restrict the agreements to the Israeli territory as recognised by the EU - in other words, the agreements will not apply to the Occupied Territories.
The EU delegation stated that the aim of these directives is to make a distinction between the State of Israel and the Occupied Territories when it comes to support from the EU. Israeli entities benefit from cooperation and financial support from the EU and these directives are designed to bring it about that this remains the case, the delegation added. According to Maja Kocijancic, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, this does not concern one-man companies. And only funds from the European budget are concerned. Kocijancic stated that the guidelines clarify a system that already exists and that there is nothing new. She said that the text is in line with an old position according to which the settlements are illegal with regard to international law.
Kocijancic explained that new opportunities are offered to Israel as part of the European neighbourhood policy - new programmes and financial instruments. She stated that Israel's participation or Israel's making full use of the opportunities of the new financial framework should not be called into question. This will enable the EU and Israel to conduct their discussions on a bilateral agreement - for example, the memorandum of understanding on Israel's participation in Horizon 2020, added Kocijancic.
The guidelines follow on from the conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council on 10 December 2012, in which the ministers state that the EU is determined to bring it about - in line with international law - that all the agreements between the State of Israel and the EU clearly and expressly indicate that they do not apply to the territories occupied by Israel since 1967.
The note will be published in the Official Journal of the EU before the end of the week. The Israeli mission has been informed by the EEAS, which has invited Israelis to hold discussions on the agreements that are being developed, said the EU delegation to Israel.
Israelis dissatisfied but Palestinians welcome the decision. On 16 July, an Israeli manager accused the EU of showing disproportionate determination against Israel. He told AFP that Europeans thus prefer to attack a small country than come down on more powerful states when it comes to controversial territories because Europeans fear that they will suffer retaliation. He referred to the actions of China in Tibet. The Israeli deputy minister for foreign affairs, Zeev Elkin, deplored what he saw as a very worrying initiative taken at a bad time because it can only strengthen the refusal of the Palestinians to resume negotiations. For his colleague in international relations, Youval Steinitz, the fallout from this irritating administrative directive should not be exaggerated because it only applies to future agreements and not to those that have already been signed.
Hanane Achraoui, a member of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation hailed the fact that the EU has moved on from the level of statements and criticisms to effective policy decisions and concrete measures that will have a positive impact on the chances for peace. (CG/transl.fl)