Brussels, 19/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - Louis Michel, told the press on Monday that the EU Council expected progress to be made on the rules of origin concerning products imported from Israel and Palestine (see below). "We agreed that the EU would review its position", if the Association Council to meet on Tuesday does not find a solution, he explained. Israel will not be represented on Tuesday by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, but by the Director General of the Ministry Avi Gil.
Questioned on the snub inflicted on the European Troika by the Israeli authorities, Mr Michel declared: "I do not have the feeling that this mission has resulted in regression. We reaffirmed our position and our commitment to resuming dialogue". The French Minister, Hubert Védrine, described a "certain discontent" on the part of the Council. Does this mean that the determination many times reaffirmed by the EU to play a role in the region is being brought into question? Not at all, says the French minister, saying it is not because at any given time a political representative speaks in an unpleasant way because all his ideas are not shared that we shall see him "disappear" from the political stage.
The Council, moreover, decided without debate to extend by one year the mandate of the EU Representative it the Middle East, Miguel Moratinos.