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Patrick Child, cabinet chief of EU External Relations and Neighbourhood Policy Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
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BRUSSELS (EJP)---The European Union might endorse later this year a new political statement stressing the importance of EU-Israel relations, an EU official said Tuesday.
"Such a statement is now circulating among the EU member states and could be endorsed at a summit meeting before the end of this year," Patrick Child, cabinet chief of EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said.
He was one of the speakers at an event in the European Parliament organized by B’nai B’rith International to celebrate Israel’s 60th anniversary.
Last week, Ferrero-Waldner announced that the EU would deepen its political dialogue with Israel and involve the country more closely in several EU policies, as part of the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), the EU’s framework foreign policy covering its eastern and southern neighbours.
Israel was described as the "front-runner" among non-EU members participating in EU programs that range from scientific cooperation to trade integration.
A "reflection group" is considering areas where the future EU-Israel relations could be upgraded to a "special status”.
But Patrick Child said that while Israel is a leading country in the European Neighbourhood Policy, the EU "cannot ignore" the political developments in the Mideast peace process.
Speaking at the same event, Israel’s ambassador to the EU, Ran Curiel, praised the fact that after years of mistrust and suspicion, the EU and Israel have been able to develop a "mature political dialogue."
"Israel and the EU have the same long-term interest," he added.
But he ruled out the idea of Israel joining the European Union even if the Israeli population appears to favour such a plan. "This is not in our cards. We have not asked to join the EU and we have not been asked to join," he said.
The EU and Israel are linked by an association agreement which came into force in 2000. The EU is Israel’s main trade partner and an EU-Israel Association Council meets annually at ministerial level.
This week's celebration of Israel’s anniversary in the framework of the European Parliament includes discussions hosted by MEPs on issues highlighting Israeli innovation in such fields as immigration absorption, development aid, environment and international cooperation.
