Professor Stanley Fischer, governor of the Bank of Israel and a renowned economist, gave the keynote address in an event held in Brussels on November 17th marking 50 years of EU- Israel relations. Both the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung European Office and the Mission of Israel to the EU co-sponsored the event. 

Against the backdrop of the international financial crisis, Prof. Fischer outlined for the audience his vision of expanding economic cooperation between Israel and the European Union. According to Fischer, central bankers often say that a central bank “is of the government” but not “in the government.” Much in the same way, he asserted, Israel is of Europe but not really in it. In describing the complex development of the EU-Israel relationship, Prof. Fischer predicted that the process of reconciliation in Europe will be seen as one of the great events of history, adding that the example of Europe is one that inspires many, including in the Middle East.

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Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) is an Israeli-based international humanitarian project, whose mission is to improve the quality of pediatric cardiac care for children from developing countries who suffer from heart disease and to create centers of competence in these countries. SACH is totally dedicated to the idea that every child deserves the best medical treatment available, regardless of the child's nationality, religion, color, gender or financial situation

 The photography Exhibition was displayed in the EU Parliament building in Brussels between November 9 to November 13, 2009.

For more information about the project

On Wednesday, November 4, 2009, a new agricultural agreement was signed in Brussels between Israel and the European Union. The new agreement, which updates the original agricultural agreement signed in the 1970's, is the result of lengthy negotiations led by Israel's Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor. Since the original signing, the agreement has been updated several times in order to reflect the significant changes in the needs of both parties.

Access to the markets of both sides has been greatly improved under the new agreement. In the processed agricultural products sector, over 95% of the products will be exempt from all taxes or levies. Considerable liberalization was undertaken in regards to all areas of fresh produce and approximately 80% will be exempt from all customs restrictions.

Israel's Ambassador to the European Union, Ran Curiel, signed the agreement for Israel, while Christian Danielsson, Ambassador of Sweden, the current president of the EU, signed in the name of the Europeans.

The agricultural agreement constitutes one element in the wide range of existing agreements between Israel and the EU, which include the Israel-EU Association Agreement, the Israeli-EU Action Plan as part of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, as well as Israel's participation in a score of European programs and agencies, such as the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development.

Approximately one billion USD of Israeli agricultural and processed food products are exported to the EU each year. Europe is Israel's most important trading partner in the agricultural field, with more than 25% of Israel's agricultural product and more than 75% of its total fresh agricultural products exported to Europe. The Ministry of Agriculture predicts that the new agreement will serve to expand agricultural exports, an important development given that more than 60% of exports to Europe come from the Arava and Negev regions.

Israel uses the world's leading technologies in the intensive production of fruits, vegetables and flowers. Most of Israel's agricultural activities are conducted in periphery and desert areas. Both Israel and the EU view the existence of active and modern rural areas as essential as they are used to preserve open spaces and prevent rapid urbanization processes.

watch video of the agreement beeing signed

(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted Javier Solana, the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and Marc Otte, the Special Representative for the Middle East peace process on Tuesday (20 October). The meeting took place in an very positive atmosphere.

Solana reiterated  that the EU’s relations with Israel are as strong as any other non-European country. Both sides offered their assessments of the diplomatic front and the Prime Minister expressed the hope that the Palestinians would shortly renew negotiations.

The efforts to curtail Iran’s military nuclear program was discussed during the meeting, and both sides said that they would be in close contact regarding the current negotiations with the Iranians.
 
 

Later that day, FM Liberman said that the continuation of the processes in the spirit of the decision of the Human Rights Council in Geneva will endanger the Middle East peace process and to the chance of renewing negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The policy of subversion carried out by the Palestinian Authority against Israel raises serious questions about the real aims of the Palestinians.

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