EU - Israel Relations

 

The EU must construct and implement its external relations in accordance with the requirements of general international law, including laws that contribute to the protection of human rights.

Association Agreement

The EU-Israel Association Agreement was signed on 20 November 1995, and entered into force on 1 June 2000. Article 2 of the Association Agreement, between the EU and Israel widely referred to as the ‘essential element’s clause’, commits the EU and Israel, to base their relations on the respect for human rights and democratic principles.

The main elements of the agreement are:

  • Respect for human rights and democratic principles ;
  • Political stability and economic development of the region through the encouragement of regional co-operation;
  • Emphasis is placed on peace, security and on the need to contribute to the stability and prosperity of the Mediterranean region, to promote understanding and tolerance;
  • Struggle against xenophobia, anti-Semitism and racism;
  • Setting up ten sub-committees to deal with the technical aspects of Action Plan commitments.

Full text of the Association Agreement
 

European Neighbourhood Policy

The following are documents adopted in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy:

In the Country Reports for each of the ENP countries, the Commission negotiates a joint set of commitments and measures intended to bring about the furthering of relations with partners. This document describes the EU cooperation objectives, the priority fields of cooperation, on the basis of a complete evaluation of the partner's political agenda and socio-economic and political situation. Full text...
  • EU-Israel Action Plan

The EU negotiates an Action Plan with each ENP country which makes up the overall strategic and policy target for the partnership. One aim in the Action Plan is to create a sub-committee on human rights in each Action Plan in order to ensure respect for human rights.

The EU/Israel Action Plan identifies as priorities co-operation in areas such as:

  • the Middle East conflict
  • counter-terrorism
  • non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
  • human rights
  • improved dialogue between cultures and religions
  • migration issues
  • human trafficking
  • judicial co-operation
  • people-to-people contacts.
In the case of Israel, the human rights sub-committee was not created. The matter was reportedly debated, but Israel refused to accept such a sub-committee on the grounds that is was contrary to Israel’s self-image as a democracy. Few EU member states opposed the Israeli objection and the matter did not come to a vote.

Full text of Action Plan...

Follow-up links:

Updated: 31-08-2006
Sources: EU, HR Review EU-Israel 2004-05