BICOM

European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton yesterday indicated that the EU would exercise some flexibility over new funding guidelines that Israel opposes, following an appeal by US Secretary of State John Kerry.

According to Reuters, during a meeting with EU foreign ministers in Latvia over the weekend, Kerry argued that the guidelines could hamper current peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. According to a senior US State Department official, Kerry asked that the EU “find a way to embrace the negotiators and encourage them to move forward, rather than, as it were metaphorically, bang them over the head.”

In July, the EU adopted new funding 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 new guidelines also stipulate that the agreement between Israel and the EU should explicitly state that it is not applicable to the territories captured in 1967, which could contradict the status of some of these areas under Israeli law. This has thrown Israel’s participation in the EU’s flagship Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme into doubt. Horizon 2020 aims to create jobs and fuel economic growth and Israel is the only non-EU country to be a full participant in the programme.

Speaking after meeting Kerry, Ashton said that the guidelines are simply “putting down on paper what is currently the EU’s position.” However, she did indicate some flexibility, saying “We will be sending a team to Israel on Monday… to make sure that in the implementation, we are doing so sensitively.” Ashton emphasised “We of course want to continue to have a strong relationship with Israel.”

EU representatives headed by Pierre Vimon, head of the European external action service, are expected to arrive in Israel today or tomorrow to address issues regarding Israel’s Horizon 2020 participation.