The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, announced on Monday 18 July that the EU/Israel Association Council, which has not met since 2012, could soon take place again.
“Ministers agreed that this was the highest level forum for our bilateral relationship”, he said after the EU Council. “The situation in the Palestinian territories is deteriorating and ministers have agreed that the EU Council would be a good opportunity to discuss this issue with Israel”, he said, adding that the EU’s position had “not changed” regarding the Middle East peace process, with the EU still advocating a two-state solution.
Some Member States want this Association Council to be held before the Israeli parliamentary elections take place in early November. Borrell has said that before setting a date, there should be a common position agreed for Member States and then a date should be set with Israel. However, he added, if there is a common EU position, it would not necessarily have to wait for a new Israeli government, which might take time to be set up.
In his opinion, the work on the EU’s common position would be a good opportunity to rethink the Middle East peace process and the role that the EU play in it. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)