Israel condemned a call by former European leaders on the EU to stick by its guidelines banning EU funding for Israeli entities beyond the Green Line.
In July, the EU adopted the new guidelines which specify that all future EU grants and prizes should exclude Israeli entities based in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.
The terms also stipulate that future agreements between Israel and the EU should explicitly state that it is not applicable to these territories, which could contradict the status of some of these areas under Israeli law.
The guidelines, which are to take effect on January 1, 2014, have thrown Israel’s participation in the EU’s flagship Horizon 2014-2020 research and innovation programme into doubt. This 80 million euros programme aims to create jobs and fuel economic growth and Israel is the only non-EU country to be a full participant in the programme.
Last week, EU and Israeli senior delegations met on two occasions, in Jerusalem and in Brussels, in order to find understandings on the implementation of the guidelines acceptable for both sides. Israel said in July that should such understandings not be reached, Israel will be unable to join the European R&D programme.
Sources on both sides described last week’s talks as “fruitful” and “positive” and negotiations are expected to continue over the coming weeks.
But fifteen members of the so-called European Eminent Persons group, which inxclusdes former EU foreign policy chief and NATO secretary-general Javier Solana, former French foreign minister Hubert Vedrine, former Middle East envoy and Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos, and Benita Ferrero-Waldner, a former Austrian foreign minister and European Commissioner,“ wrote to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and to the Foreign Ministers of the 28 EU member states expressing “great concern” at attempts to “delay, modify or even suspend the European Commission guidelines on funding” towards Israel. They argued that “Their strict application serves to reiterate that the EU does not recognize and will not support settlements.”
“We urge you to uphold this commitment by supporting the guidelines and their full application by EU institutions, notably in regard to the ongoing negotiations about Israel’s participation in Horizon 2020,” the letter state.’’Their strict application serves to reiterate that the EU does not recognize and will not support settlements and other illegal facts on the ground…. It is these facts on the ground, not the guidelines, which threaten to make a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict impossible”, read the letter.
“The people who signed the letter are no longer relevant and do not have control or say in the EU decision-making process,” an Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson responded.
“This reflects their own biased positions and does not surprise us. Secretary of State John Kerry has made it clear that these guidelines are not productive for the peace process or the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian discussions which have been held recently.”
Earlier this month, Kerry urged the EU to delay the implementation of the guidelines in order not to jeopardize current peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
“We’re hopeful that, within the bounds of what’s possible, we’ll be able to find common ground that both sides can accept,” the Israeli spokesperson added.
Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon accused the former EU officials of harming the peace process.
“Former European officials never cease to amaze,” he said. “They have crossed the line of criticism of the State of Israel. I expect the European leadership to condemn this move.”