Vilnius, 09/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - A European team, led by the secretary general of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Pierre Vimont, travelled to Israel on Monday 9 September to supervise the introduction of the guidelines on EU financial instruments, loans and subsidies - guidelines that limit the use of EU financial instruments, loans and subsidies on the territory of Israel from 2014, and that thus exclude the settlements (see EUROPE 10889). The team will be up and running on Tuesday 10 September.
On Saturday 7 September, Ashton announced that they were sending a team on Monday 9 September, led by Pierre Vimont, to be sure that the guidelines were implemented “sensitively”. She replied to a question about the request of US Secretary of State John Kerry, during his meeting with the 28 EU foreign affairs ministers, to postpone implementing these guidelines. The guidelines were published in the Official Journal and will apply from 1 January 2014, said Ashton's spokesperson, Maja Kocijancic, on 9 September. The European team is due to meet Israeli officials to discuss the implementation of these guidelines. Israel has strongly criticised the European measures.
On 7 September, Ashton reiterated that the guidelines put down on paper the current position of the EU with regard to the settlements that are illegal under international law. She added that the EU naturally wanted to have a strong relationship with Israel.
During his meeting with the European ministers, Kerry discussed the Middle East peace process and his efforts at length - efforts that are supported and welcomed by the EU. (CG/transl.fl)