BICOM

Israel has condemned a call by former European officials for the European Union (EU) to cease searching for a solution on new funding guidelines which have cast doubt over Israel’s participation in the EU’s flagship research programme.

In July, the EU adopted the new 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 terms also stipulate that such agreements 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.

Last week, EU and Israeli officials met on two occasions, once in Jerusalem and once in Brussels, in order to find a an acceptable formula for both sides to implement the guidelines. Sources on both sides described the talks as “fruitful” and “positive” and negotiations are expected to continue over the coming months. However, fifteen members of the so-called European Eminent Persons group, including former NATO secretary-general Javier Solana and former French foreign minister Hubert Vedrine, yesterday wrote to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton expressing “great concern” at attempts to “delay, modify or even suspend the European Commission guidelines on funding” towards Israel. They argued that “Their strict application serves to reiterate that the EU does not recognize and will not support settlements.”

In response, a spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry commented that “the people who signed the letter are no longer relevant” and emphasised “We’re hopeful that, within the bounds of what’s possible, we’ll be able to find common ground that both sides can accept.”