Brussels, 30/11/2015 (Agence Europe) - Following Israel's announcement that it is suspending contact with the European institutions, the European Union said on Monday 30 November that it intended to continue its involvement in the Middle East peace process.
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini spoke to Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the COP 21 climate conference in Paris. A European source said there had also been contact at political director level and at delegation level, and that the EU was waiting to see how Israel would proceed. According to the same source, the Quartet (comprising the EU, the USA, Russia and the United Nations) is not reportedly concerned by the Israeli measures.
Without giving details of the discussion between Netanyahu and Mogherini, Maja Kocijancic, Mogherini's spokesperson, stated that relations between the EU and Israel were “good, extensive and deep and that this (would) continue”. She reiterated that the guidelines to the settlements products had been produced at the request of the EU member states. “From the EU's point of view, no big change has taken place and there is unity from the EU on this issue”, Kocijancic added. She stated that the EU would continue its work on the Middle East peace process “within the Quartet, with the Arab partners, and with both the parties”.
The previous day, Israel decided to suspend its relations with the European institutions in retaliation for the European Commission's publication of guidelines on labelling products from the Israeli settlements (see EUROPE 11429). In a press release from Israel's foreign ministry, quoted by different media, Netanyahu has requested “a reassessment of the involvement of the EU bodies in everything that is connected to the diplomatic process with the Palestinians”. “Until completion of the reassessment, the prime minister has ordered a suspension of diplomatic contacts with the EU and its representatives in this matter”, the press release states, without giving further detail. Israel will, on the other hand, continue its bilateral contact with the EU member states. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)