''The European Union opposes a boycott of Israeli companies and businesses. We don't want to see Israel isolated ,’’ EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Monday while at the same time reiterating the long-standing EU opposition regarding settlements and the ''territorial applicability of bilateral agreements'', a reference to the July 2013 EU guidelines banning any funding to Israeli entities beyond the Green Line.
Speaking at a press conference after a meeting of the 28 EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels mainly dedicated to the situation in Ukraine, Ashton said ministers had a ‘’brief’’ discussion on the Middle East peace process.
‘’The EU fully supports US Secretary of State John Kerry’s efforts as well as the Israeli and Palestinian engagement in the current negotiations,’’ she said.
She reiterated that the EU is ''determined'' to offer Israel and the Palestinians with an ‘’unprecedented’’ package of support measures for both parties in the context of a final status agreement ''on the basis of a ''special privileged partnership.''
''We want this to create huge opportunities in transport, energy, water, environment, people to people and business to business contacts. We want to see progressive market intergration, trade and investment facilitation, research and innovation, security cooperation that will benefit both Israel and the Palestinians with a special emphasis on young people,'' she said.
''Our approach will be tailor-made and will be negotiated with both partners,'' Ashton added.
‘’Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and (Palestinian Authority)President Abbas need to make important decisions,’’ Ashton said.