Israel and the EU

Latest news about relations between the European Union and Israel

The EU and Israel committed themselves to establishing a partnership which provides for close political and mutually beneficial trade and investment relations together with economic, social, financial, civil scientific, technological and cultural cooperation.

The Action Plan concluded with Israel helped give new energy and focus to EU-Israel relations. Its objective is to gradually integrate Israel into European policies and programmes. Every step taken is determined by both sides and the Action Plan is tailor-made to reflect Israel's interests and priorities as well as its level of development.

There is also, for the first time, a financial assistance element to EU-Israel cooperation - Israel is eligible for EUR 14 million in European Community financial cooperation over the next seven years.

The legal basis for the EU's relations with Israel is the EU-Israel Association Agreement .

As a result of the Action Plan discussions on the most contentious issue of EU-Israel relations over the years, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, have been stepped up.

2007 has seen renewed efforts by the international community, including the revitalization of the quartet, combined with increased support from regional partners for peace and stability in the Middle East. The EU believes that the creation of an independent, viable and democratic Palestinian state is in Israel's interest.

FACT SHEETS

• Israel: Economy Overview
• Israel Investment Climate 2009
• Starting a business in Israel
• EU Delegation to Israel

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  LATEST NEWS

  EU denies labelling of settler goods delayed — 20 May 2013, 23:34 CET

  The European Union on Monday denied an Israeli media report that it was delaying labelling of products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
  
  

  Ashton edgy on new Israeli settlement moves — 10 May 2013, 21:43 CET

  EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said Friday she is worried about mounting tensions in East Jerusalem and the West Bank after conflicting messages from Israel on settlement activity.
  
  

  EU warns of 'spillover' threat in Syria region — 06 May 2013, 13:32 CET

  The EU's executive on Monday expressed "great concern" following Israeli air strikes against Syrian targets and warned against an escalation of the conflict.
  
  

  EU criticies Israel destroying Palestinian structures — 26 April 2013, 21:44 CET

  European Union missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah expressed serious concerns on Friday about the demolition this week of 22 structures in eight places across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
  
  

  Israeli airline workers end two-day strike over EU deal — 22 April 2013, 22:27 CET

  Israeli airline workers ended a two-day strike on Monday after protesting against the government's approval of a commercial aviation deal with Europe, a trade union said.
  
  

  Israel airline strike strands travellers for 2nd day — 22 April 2013, 18:48 CET

  Israeli airline workers were on strike for a second day on Monday to protest at the government's approval of an Open Skies deal with Europe, leaving frustrated travellers stranded.
  
  

  Travellers stranded as Israel airline strike goes into day 2 — 22 April 2013, 14:07 CET

  Workers of Israeli airlines were on strike for second consecutive day on Monday to protest the approval of an Open Skies deal with the European Union, leaving frustrated travellers stranded in the Jewish state.
  
  

  Israel ratifies EU Open Skies deal as airlines strike — 21 April 2013, 22:20 CET

  The Israeli government approved an Open Skies deal with European carriers on Sunday, as local airline workers went on strike with hundreds burning tyres outside the premier's office in protest against the plan.
  
  

  EU foreign ministers want West Bank settlement goods labelled — 19 April 2013, 20:57 CET

  EU foreign ministers, among them Britain's William Hague and Laurent Fabius of France, have said they will back EU efforts to label products from Israel's settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, according to a letter obtained by AFP on Friday.
  
  

  Israeli airlines to strike on Sunday over EU deal — 18 April 2013, 17:30 CET

  Israeli airline staff called a strike for Sunday to protest against a government proposal to finalise a deregulation plan with European carriers which they say would result in widespread layoffs.
  
  

  Israel trying to deport hunger-strike Palestinian — 12 April 2013, 19:29 CET

  Israel has told the European Union and UN it can deport a Palestinian prisoner on a life-endangering long-term hunger strike to one of their member states, an Israeli official told AFP on Friday.
  
  

  Israel: Morocco MPs refused entry as had no visas — 10 April 2013, 10:33 CET

  Israel on Wednesday defended a decision to turn away two Moroccan MPs trying to enter the West Bank from Jordan earlier this week saying they did not have entry visas.
  
  

  Israel accused of 'arrogance' over Morocco MPs — 09 April 2013, 21:32 CET

  Morocco's parliament speaker accused Israel on Tuesday of arrogance for having barred two Moroccan MPs in an EU-led parliamentary team from entering the West Bank to meet Palestinian officials.
  
  

  Moroccan MPs 'barred from entering West Bank' — 08 April 2013, 20:21 CET

  Israeli authorities on Monday barred two Moroccan MPs accompanying EU parliamentarians from crossing into the West Bank to meet Palestinian officials, one of the lawmakers said.
  
  

  Donors make progress on Palestinian aid — 19 March 2013, 22:56 CET

  International donors are making progress toward finding the $1.2 billion needed to help fund the Palestinian Authority this year as it faces up to very difficult economic problems, officials said Tuesday.
  
  

  EU signs aid deal with Palestinian PM — 19 March 2013, 15:57 CET

  The European Union signed an aid deal Tuesday with the Palestinian prime minister to bolster ties and promote economic development against a backdrop of a stalled peace process with Israel.
  
  

  EU Parliament urges probe in Palestinian prisoner death — 14 March 2013, 22:00 CET

  The European Parliament on Thursday urged Israel to conduct an impartial investigation into the prison death in February of Palestinian militant Arafat Jaradat.
  
  

  Israel's Peres urges Arab intervention in Syria — 14 March 2013, 22:39 CET

  Israel's Shimon Peres called Tuesday for Arab intervention "to stop the massacre" in Syria as he delivered the first speech by an Israeli head of state to the European Parliament in almost three decades.
  
  

  Peres urges EU to brand Hezbollah terror group — 07 March 2013, 13:41 CET

  Israeli President Shimon Peres on Thursday urged the EU to brand Hezbollah a terrorist group, as failing to do so would only encourage it to expand its operations.
  
  

  Israel's Peres starts Europe tour with Holocaust ceremony — 05 March 2013, 22:01 CET

  Israeli President Shimon Peres kicked off a European tour Tuesday with a homage to 22 Belgians honoured for their bravery in saving Jews during the Holocaust.
  
  

  EU hammers Jerusalem settlement policy, urges sanctions — 27 February 2013, 16:39 CET

  Israel's construction in east Jerusalem is a deliberate strategy to prevent the city from becoming capital of two states, an internal EU report found Wednesday, urging members to block funding for any settlement activities.
  
  

  Peres urges EU to put Hezbollah on terror list — 21 February 2013, 20:25 CET

  Israeli President Shimon Peres on Thursday made a fresh call for the European Union to put Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah group on its terror blacklist.
  
  

  Israel slams EU delay in putting Hezbollah on terror list — 20 February 2013, 21:35 CET

  Israel's Home Front Defence Minister Avi Dichter has denounced Europe's hesitation in putting Lebanon's Hezbollah on its terror list, branding debate on the issue as "almost a joke."
  
  

  Palestinians push EU to act for prisoners' release — 18 February 2013, 18:38 CET

  The Palestinians on Monday demanded that the European Union go beyond calls for Israel to improve its treatment of Palestinian prisoners and work to secure their immediate release.
  
  

  EU calls on Israel to respect rights of hunger strikers — 16 February 2013, 17:19 CET

  The European Union on Saturday called on Israel to respect its human rights obligations towards Palestinian prisoners, saying it was concerned about the condition of four detainees on a long-term hunger strike.
  
  

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