Brussels, 28/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - 2013 was marked by progress in several areas of cooperation between the EU and Israel - including the agreement on Israel's participation in Horizon 2020 - the European Commission announced in its progress report on 27 March, calling on Israel to maintain momentum in this bilateral cooperation. “EU-Israel trade and economic relations are already well developed and are improving further. However, some issues remain open, including sanitary and phytosanitary matters and technical barriers to trade”, the Commission adds.
Nevertheless, despite the progress, the Commission also criticises Israel's lack of respect for the protection of minority rights and its lack of responsibility in the occupied territories. Israel should “continue and increase efforts to ensure the equality of all Israeli citizens”, particularly with regard to the rights of minority Arabs. Irregular migration remains “a serious challenge” for Israel, the Commission continues.
While “tension has increased in 2013” with the occupied Palestinian territories, the Commission recalls that the “heavy restrictions” on movement and access to the Gaza Strip imposed by Israel lead to a worsening of the humanitarian and economic situation. The Commission also asks Israel to ensure the respect of international law and human rights in the occupied territories, to step up the fight against settler violence as acts of violence too often go unpunished, and to limit the of administrative detention without trial. Efforts must be continued to find a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (CG)