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 €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's Ashton 'concerned' for Palestinian hunger striker — 18 February 2012, 11:47 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is "following with great concern" the fate of an Islamic Jihad member held by Israel, who has been on a hunger strike since December, a statement said on Saturday.

Iran will respond to any oil, military threats: Khamenei — 03 February 2012, 12:22 CET

Iran will respond with threats of its own to intensifying warnings of military attacks and Western sanctions, its supreme leader said Friday in remarks particularly aimed at archfoe the United States.

German diplomat named EU's new Mideast envoy — 23 January 2012, 12:37 CET

The European Union named on Friday a veteran German diplomat as the new EU envoy to the Middle East peace process amid tensions with Israel over Jewish settlements.

Tougher EU sanctions on Iran 'important': Israel — 23 January 2012, 10:13 CET

Israel on Monday expressed cautious optimism ahead of a key meeting of EU foreign ministers at which they were to slap an oil embargo on Iran in a bid to force it to halt its nuclear programme.

Annual European Neighbourhood Policy reports 2009 — 13 May 2010, 15:32 CET

The annual European Neighbourhood Policy reports once again demonstrate the clear benefits that the European Union brings to its neighbours. For five years, the European Union has been delivering more trade, more aid, more people-to-people contacts and far deeper co-operation between the EU and its neighbours on the whole range of their economic, political and sectoral reforms. Our partnership has significantly developed in areas like transport, energy, environment and climate change, research, health and education. This has been backed up with an increase in the current Financial Framework by 32% and will reach over EUR 2 billion annually in 2013.

Israel: Economy Overview — 12 February 2010, 17:00 CET

Israel has a technologically advanced market economy.

Starting a business in Israel — 12 February 2010, 16:41 CET

This World Bank site provides information about the procedures and costs associated with starting a business in Israel.

EU Delegation to Israel — 12 February 2010, 16:38 CET

Contacts of the European Delegation to Israel

Israel Investment Climate 2009 — 12 February 2010, 16:29 CET

Israel is open to foreign investment, and the government actively encourages and supports the inflow of foreign capital.

No preferential customs treatment for products from occupied territories: EC Court Opinion — 03 November 2009, 12:05 CET

Products originating from the occupied territories are not entitled to preferential customs treatment under the EC-Israel Agreement, according to the Opinion of the European Court's Advocate General.

European Commission Technical Assistance Office for the West Bank and Gaza Strip — 11 June 2007, 13:52 CET

The EU’s relationship with the region, and the Palestinians in particular has grown deeper over the past decades. The EC hopes that this relationship will be successful in helping pave the way towards a just peace and a Palestinian State in the near future. The website of the European Commission Technical Assistance Office for the West Bank and Gaza Strip contains information about the role of this office and various areas of cooperation with the Palestinian Authority. You will find an overview of the EU’s activities and relevant information on EC’s assistance and programmes. It is designed to provide easy and accessible information on the EU in general, its external relation policies, its institutions and its activities.