20/06/2024 (Agence Europe) – Asked about the agreement between the Hungarian and Israeli foreign ministers to hold an EU-Israel Association Council under the Hungarian presidency of the EU Council in the second half of 2024 (see EUROPE 13435/19), a source at the European External Action Service reminded Agence Europe that organising an Association Council was the prerogative of the EU High Representative. This source pointed out that the EU Council presidencies had no role in the context of the Association Councils, as the Common Foreign and Security Policy is managed by the High Representative. On 27 May, High Representative of the Union Josep Borrell announced that he had obtained the Member States’ agreement to organise such a Council, and that he had invited Israel in early June (see EUROPE 13417/1, 13425/26). (CG)