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19 November 2009
Jerusalem Municipality Advancing Plans To Build Over 5,000 New Housing Units for the Arab Public

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15 November 2009
First-time cooperation between MASHAV and NATO – training for mass-casualty events

11 November 2009
City of Lod joins World Monuments Fund list

11 November 2009
Educational equipment transferred to Gaza Strip via Israel

10 November 2009
'Save a Child's Heart' at the European Parliament

5 November 2009
Israel rejects General Assembly resolution

27 October 2009
Response to Amnesty International's report on Israeli-Palestinian water issues

12 October 2009
New York Times: War in Gaza has brought some quiet to Israeli border communities

7 October 2009
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Israel - EU: Other Agreements

Brussels (EU) - Other Agreements

Israel and European Commission sign 2008 Financing Agreement for Annual Action Programme

23 June 2009

(Click to enlarge)

photo:MFA

Foreign Ministry Director-General Yossi Gal, and the Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to the State of Israel, Ambassador Ramiro Cibrian-Uzal, signed a Financing Agreement for the implementation of the 2008 Annual Action Programme for Israel under the EU's European Neighbourhood Policy. The signing took place on Monday, 22 June 2009, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem.

The objective of the Annual Action Programme is to develop an increasingly close relationship between the European Union and Israel, aiming at achieving a significant level of economic integration and deepening political co-operation. The financial contribution of the EU shall be limited to the amount of 2 million euro per year.

The 2008 Annual Action Programme for Israel - part of the ongoing cooperation between Israel and the EU in the context of the European Neighbourhood Policy - will promote legislative approximation and strengthen the dialogue between the EU and Israeli public administrations in the areas of equal employment opportunities and veterinary services. This will be carried out by means of "twinning" projects in which European experts will be working in Israel for extended periods of time within the respective Israeli institutions.

EU foreign ministers vote to intensify diplomatic dialogue with Israel

December 9, .2008

In Brussels yesterday (8 December), 27 European foreign ministers unanimously agreed to intensify their dialogue with Israel on diplomatic issues. Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni said that this is a meaningful achievement for Israeli diplomacy, opening a new chapter in Israel's diplomatic relations with EU states. It reflects the increasing cooperation between the parties, based on common values and similar world views.

The intensification of diplomatic dialogue is an important element in the process of upgrading the ties between Israel and Europe, which encompass a variety of areas such as trade, transportation, energy, culture, financial services, welfare, etc. This process began about a year and a half ago, at the initiative of FM Livni, who proposed that the EU states examine the subject from a practical standpoint. Since then, Israel has been negotiating with the EU on the details and nature of the upgrade in their relations, which was confirmed in principle when FM Livni attended the Association meeting in Luxemburg last June.

This move will enable Israel to integrate more fully into the changing global constellation and to confront, as an equal partner, the challenges facing the international community today – the economic crisis, global terrorism, the threat of extremism, WMD proliferation, and the environment.

Ties with the European Union are a central pillar in Israel's foreign policy. In recent years, dozens of European foreign ministers and leaders have visited Israel, a sign of the depth and quality of relations. The EU is Israel's biggest trade partner, and the ties between them, which already extend into many diverse fields, will receive an additional boost when the upgrade in relations begins to show practical expression.

The diplomatic aspect of the upgrade process is wide-reaching and will reflect the special relations that have developed in recent years between Israel and the EU. The new elements agreed upon include holding ad hoc summit meetings with the participation of Israeli and European prime ministers; at least three meetings a year of Israeli and European foreign ministers; periodic meetings of Israeli and European foreign ministry director generals; ongoing professional dialogue on the subjects of the peace process, strategic issues, counterterrorism, international cooperation (MASHAV), organized crime, and others; intensified joint discussions on antisemitism and human rights; European help in integrating Israel into UN institutions; possible integration of Israeli experts in European peace forces; enhancement of the relations between the Knesset and European parliaments, and more.

Israel intends to use the intensified dialogue to convince Europe to increase the pressure on Hamas and the actions against the Iranian threat, while ensuring that Israel's strategic interests are protected in every diplomatic process.

(Communicated by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson)

-The Council reaffirms its determination to upgrade the level and intensity of its bilateral relations with Israel. to read the final Council conclusion pres here (page 14-16).

H.E Mr. Ran CURIEL Ambassador of Israel to the EU has signed the protocol on Israel’s participation in Community Programs.

April 15,2008

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©Europea Council

Brussels, Tuesday 15 April, 2008 --- Today, Ambassador Ran CURIEL signed the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement, establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States on the one hand, and the State of Israel on the other hand, on a framework Agreement between the European Community and the State of Israel on the general principles governing the State of Israel’s participation in Community Programs.

The Representative from the European side signing the Agreement was H.E. Mr. Igor SENCAR Ambassador of the Slovenia to the EU.

Israel is the first country among all the European Neighborhood Partners to sign this Agreement which gives Israeli bodies and organizations the ability to participate in various programs proposed by the European Union.

Those programs concern various fields such as:

Environment, Customs, Academy, Energy, Competition and Innovation, Culture and Youth Programs.

This is another step forward in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affair’s effort towards an upgrade of the relations between Israel and the European Union.

European Neighbourhood Policy – ISRAEL, Major developments in 2007 and overall assessment

April 3, 2008

EU–Israel relations: basic facts

The EU-Israel Association Agreement entered into force in 2000, replacing an earlier 1975 Cooperation Agreement. It includes free trade arrangements for industrial goods and concessions on trade in agricultural products. An additional agreement deepening mutual concessions in trade in agricultural products entered into force in 2004. The European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan was adopted in April 2005. The third round of sub-committee meetings began in October 2007. An EU-Israel Reflection Group is currently considering areas where relations with the EU might be upgraded to a "special status" which will include both: a deepening of political dialogue and integrating Israel more closely in a number of key EU policies.

Major developments in 2007 and overall assessment

Overall Israel has been an active partner in the framework of the ENP, as demonstrated by the progress made in implementing a large number of priorities of the joint Action Plan. The ENP has clearly played a catalyst role in boosting EU-Israeli relations and the Action Plan has provided the platform to develop more profoundly the cooperation in many fields, from enhanced EU-Israel political dialogue to Israel's involvement in a number of EU initiatives.

Israel is among the front-runners in making use of the new possibilities for ENP partner countries’ to participate in Community programmes. It is the first ENP country to participate in the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) which promotes innovation, entrepreneurship and growth of small and medium sized businesses.

A business-to-business dialogue has been established in 2007 between European and Israeli business leaders, designed to strengthen bilateral economic relations, remove trade and investment barriers and enhance investment and joint ventures.

Israel is fully associated to the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Development. Over 1,300 proposals involving Israeli researchers were received and 267, were accepted with a Community contribution of over € 51 million.

Israel participates in the GALILEO programme for satellite navigation.

Israeli students already participate in the Erasmus Mundus exchange programme (an increase of over 70% in 2007/2008 over the previous period) and will be able to participate in TEMPUS IV education programmes.

The negotiations on a horizontal agreement on air transport were launched. The negotiations on further liberalisation on trade in agriculture, processed agriculture and fishery products continued. Bilateral negotiations on liberalisation of services and establishment will start soon.

Some examples how the ENP deepens the EU-Israel relationship

The Action Plan deepens political dialogue including through working together with the EU, bilaterally and as a member of the Quartet, with the objective of reaching a comprehensive settlement of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Strengthened EU-Israel co-operation in the fight against terrorism, with increased dialogue and exchange of information and an agreement to cooperate in relevant international fora: In June 2007, Israel hosted an ENP Troika seminar on “Radicalisation and Recruitment of Terrorists - Analysis and Prevention”, an issue of common concern, with large participation of relevant representatives from both sides.

Commitments to promote protection of human rights and to co-operate in the fight against racism, anti-semitism, xenophobia and islamophobia: a second seminar on racism, anti-semitism, and xenophobia focusing on education related matters was hosted by Israel in January 2008 to share best practices.

Science and technological cooperation (renewed in July 2007), which allows Israeli researchers, universities and companies to participate in the EU’s 7th Framework Research Programme. Israel was the first non-European country to be associated to this programme and will contribute approximately €440 million.

Promoting co-operation in energy including convergence towards the principles of the EU internal energy markets, development of networks and regional co-operation.

Assistance to Israel

In period 2007-2010 Israel will receive annually €2 million in Community assistance to support activities for the implementation of the Action Plan priorities, mainly in the form of institutional co-operation.

The Communication from the Commission to the Parliament and the Council Implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy in 2007 (3 April 2008) and a country report on Israel are available at

http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/documents_en.htm