Brussels, 02/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - The EU/Israel Association Council will be holding its 7th session on Monday 5 March, in Brussels. This will provide an opportunity to review all aspects of political, economic, technical and financial cooperation and also cooperation in the field of research and development. The situation in the Middle East will be a key topic of discussion. The European side, however, will be placing emphasis on the nuclear question, as Israel is the only state in the region that owns weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The Hebrew state has to date not signed the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Iran, whose nuclear programme is causing the EU and the international community great concern, as well as a number of Arab countries (Egypt, Gulf countries), is using this argument to call for an equitable approach on the part of Europe and for the practice of “double standards” to be brought to an end.
The EU calls upon all states which have not yet done so, including Israel, to accede to the NPT, the IAEA Additional Protocol, the CWC, the BTWC and the HCOC, and is looking forward to a successful preparatory committee in April/May 2007 for the NPT 2010 Review Conference. The EU attaches great importance to the universalisation of international instruments against the proliferation of WMD. The EU intends, in accordance with its commitment under the action plan signed with Israel in the context of European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), to develop cooperation with Israel with a view to combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. It plans to recall in this respect the commitment of principle taken by EuroMed ministers in November 2004 to open dialogue on this subject, beginning with the organisation of a regional conference on this theme. The EU's ultimate objective is to establish an area that is free from weapons of mass destruction. It does not, however, appear to be bringing current stocks into question. (fb)