Luxembourg, 18/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - The EU-Israel Association Council session was held on Monday 16 June in Luxembourg under the joint chairmanship of Dimitrij Rupel, President-in-Office of the EU Council, and Tzipi Lizni, Israeli Foreign Minister. At the close of the session which aimed to draw up an annual account of cooperation, Mr Rupel affirmed that achievements are positive. He stressed the “mutual importance” of these relations. “There are many historic, cultural and economic links between us” which make one want to establish “sustainable dialogue and collaborate at a higher level”, Mr Rupel said. His hope is that this dialogue will contribute to “strengthening stability, security and prosperity, not only for the European Union but also for its neighbouring countries”. The key point of the session was to give a first response to the Israeli request made last year to progress towards the establishment of a strategic partnership that would give Israel right of access to all Community policies, almost as if it were a member of the EU.
The response is in the affirmative but comes linked to deepened cooperation, accepted in principle, and progress in the peace process. This condition is the result of reservation expressed by a number of member states (France in particular, against Germany, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Denmark that wished to give Israel a more concrete and positive response with immediate implementation). The EU Council makes this “upgrading” a common aim. Israel, as the 27 point out, really has rule of law, and a dynamic market economy as well as a well-developed public administration. It also has the necessary institutional structures for ever closer and deeper cooperation with the European Union. Member states agree that this cooperation should be gradually phased in. It is “obvious that the strengthening of our political cooperation must be interpreted as cooperation likely to contribute to the process for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”, Mr Rupel said.
In practical terms, the EU spoke of its availability to strengthen political dialogue with Israel, mainly on the fringe of the United Nations General Assembly sessions. Ad hoc meetings at the level of senior officials are envisaged. Israel, however, will remain a third country, not integrated into the different frameworks of consultation and decision-making on strategic, diplomatic or defence and security aspects. Broad economic and social cooperation will be sought (on trade matters and in order to ensure far-reaching integration into the single market, in areas such as public procurement, technical regulations on industrial products, intellectual and industrial property rights, competitive policy, and legislation in plant and animal health, etc). The field of action is very broad: transport, aeronautics, environment, science and technology, higher education, health, etc.
The EU plans to include and conceive this approach within the framework of the broad range of common interests and objectives, above all including settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The EU has warned Israel against extending its settlements which threaten the viability of a solution based on the coexistence of two states, and calls for all settlements to be brought to a halt, including natural expansion, and for uncontrolled settlement colonies created since March 2001 to be dismantled. It also calls for an end to the restrictions that paralyse economic and social activity in the West Bank. The EU is extremely concerned by the untenable humanitarian situation in Gaza. Political views exchanged covered, moreover, all the subjects concerning the region (Iran, Iraq, etc). The EU calls on Israel to contribute to regional security, to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and to disarmament. It states that it will continue consultation with a view to reaching a final agreement on the reference framework and on the date for a meeting that it plans to organise on this theme. It reiterates its commitment for the establishment of a zone that is free from weapons of mass destruction or nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and their vectors, and that is accompanied by an effective mutual verification system. Countries that choose the nuclear option should develop their nuclear energy programme in line with the highest security, safety and non-proliferation standards, say the 27. All states of the region, including Israel, are invited to comply with the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons (NNPT), as well as with other international conventions. (F.B./transl.jl)