BICOM

European Union (EU) foreign ministers yesterday announced a significant upgrade in political, economic, cultural and scientific cooperation with both Israel and a future Palestinian state in the event of a peace agreement.

Although US Secretary of State John Kerry brokered the resumption of peace talks in July, there has been no subsequent significant breakthrough in negotiations. Yesterday’s announcement, at the end of the monthly meeting of the 28 EU foreign ministers in Brussels, praised Kerry’s “tireless engagement” in peacemaking efforts and said that “Current talks represent a unique opportunity which must be seized by both parties.”

The statement went on to say that Israel and a future Palestinian state would be granted a Special Privileged Partnership with the EU, the closest possible ties with a non-member state. The benefits would include “increased access to the European markets, closer cultural and scientific links, facilitation of trade and investments as well as promotion of business to business relations. Enhanced political dialogue and security cooperation will also be offered to both states.”

Although there was no official response from Israel or the Palestinian Authority (PA), EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton described the package as “unprecedented” and commented “It is meant to send the strongest signal possible that we really want this agreement to happen.”

The EU is already one of Israel’s largest trade partners and last month Israel agreed to become the only non-member state to be a full participant in the EU’s flagship Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. However, Haaretz reports that the ambassadors to Israel from Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain yesterday met with Nissim Ben-Shitrit, acting director-general of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, to warn against announcing new settlement construction after the planned release of Palestinian prisoners at the end of this month. A similar warning will reportedly be issued by the consuls of the five EU countries to PA leaders in Ramallah today, against taking steps which would undermine peace talks.