Issues
EU- Israel: A Special Partnership
European Neighbourhood Policy
Since 2004, the European Union developed what they called the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), which gives special privileges to about 15 EU neighbouring countries regarding their relationship with the EU on an economical and political level. The ENP is also embedded in the framework of the European Security Strategy established in December 2003. It is indeed partially to avoid hostility with the enlarged EU’s neighbouring countries that it was created.
The countries favoured by the ENP work in narrow collaboration with the EU. This work is based on common values concerning various topics such as Human Rights, Democracy, market economy, good governance, etc.... The EU also offers those countries an increased economical integration, as well as an advanced political relationship.
It is however important to hold into consideration the fact that this enhanced relationship with the ENP countries is a separate process from the EU enlargement: being part of the ENP does not make ENP countries potential candidates for an adhesion to the EU.
The ENP however remains a dynamic and permanently evolving policy. Depending on results achieved by each country, the EU reinforces and further develops some relationships.
EU-Israel: towards a new relationship
In March 2007, Israel attempts to get closer to the EU by suggesting serious changes in their relationship and increasing their privileges from the ENP.
In June 2008, a European deputy, Francis Wurtz, unveils the ongoing secret negotiations between the EU and Israel on this matter. What Israel is asking for goes beyond the favoured status of the ENP countries to almost bring the Hebrew state up to the level of an EU member. Israel’s three main demands are the following:
1- Israel wants to have the same status as EU members regarding the relations between the EU and the Maghreb, the Machrek and the UN.
2- Its second request is about its participation in the European council on the economy and finances, transports, security, energy and education.
3- Finally, Israel seeks the creation of a joint parliamentary structure with the EU.
The status of these negotiations is slightly problematic and controversial on several levels. First of all they remained secret for more than a year. The European parliament neither was informed about it nor was consulted. The European deputies have been kept away from the negotiations and reflexion groups on the topic.
It is also important to mention that no state outside the EU has the kind of privileges that Israel is asking for. The favourable situation in which it would place Israel seems to be in disagreement with the many complains from the international community towards Israel. Israel regularly violates international law, human rights and its commitments towards the quartet and the international community.
Negotiations
On June 16, 2008, the EU-Israel association council met in order to officially discuss this question. The President of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council, Dimitrij Ruppel, confirmed, during this meeting, the importance of a partnership between Israel and the EU and reminded the assembly of the historic and economical ties that bring both parties together. He also emphasized the importance of solving the Arab-Israeli conflict, and, while highlighting the significance of an improved cooperation between the EU and Israel; he heavily linked it to the condition of better relations between Israelis and Palestinians.
Francis Wurtz, European deputy, (French Communist Party) doesn’t see these negotiations going very far. He qualifies Israel’s demands of ‘outrageous’ and admits that a positive outcome for Israel to the ongoing talks seems ‘inconceivable’. It is worthy to also consider that the EU-Israel Association Council seems to have different views on the situation. The statement issued following the June 16th meeting defines the process as important and positive. The EU seems to want to increase the scope of its relationship with Israel regarding economical and political cooperation. It officially states that following an improvement in both parties’ relationship, Israel is now eligible to participate in some EU Community Programs.
Nothing concrete is however yet granted to Israel. The statement from the June 16th meeting highly stresses the importance of new improvements in the Israeli- Palestinian negotiations and relations in order to concretely apply Israel’s demands regarding an increased role and cooperation with the EU.
EU-Israel, from Barcelona to the UPM
Those secret negotiations were revealed at the same time as the Union for the Mediterranean (UPM) was about to be launched. The UPM takes up the same objectives as the Barcelona Process. The ENP is launched in 2004, when Barcelona, introduced a little less than 10 years previously, seems to reach its limits. At the political level, as well as regarding its security policy, Barcelona does not manage to reach its goals. To counteract its failure, the EU initiates a new project that encloses more or less a similar spirit, and revives the dialogue between the EU and its neighbours. The ENP is aimed towards some Eastern European countries as well as the countries included in the Process of Barcelona. In spite of a different approach and the integration of Eastern European countries, the ENP holds more or less similar objectives as Barcelona.
However, the ENP differs from the Euro- Mediterranean process on many essential points. To the Mediterranean countries, the fact itself that the ENP also includes Eastern European countries empties the Barcelona Process from its meaning. Barcelona’s foundation was the strong historical ties between Europe and the Middle East. This enlargement towards Eastern Europe generates changes in core meaning of the Barcelona Process. At the end, the primary objective of Eastern European countries is their integration in the EU, which is absolutely not the case for Middle Eastern countries. With the ENP, the Euro- Mediterranean project takes a new turn and marginalizes the relationship between the EU and the Middle East.
In the context of the current negotiations between the EU and Israel, it is interesting to note that the Hebrew state has always demonstrated interest to the launching of partnership with the EU such as Barcelona, the ENP and the UPM. Those three agreements are not the only ones signed between the EU and Israel. In 2000, both also sign an Association Accord that establishes a sustained political cooperation and that reinforces the free trade agreement of 1975.
The ENP, suggested in 2004, spurs Israel’s enthusiasm; it reacts in a very positive way to the EU’s offer. Israel views in this offer tremendous important economical, political and strategic opportunity. Similarly, when in 2008 the EU discusses the launch of the UPM, Israel shows much enthusiasm and its support to the new project is instantaneous.
A rapprochement with the EU seems to be important to Israel. To get there it uses all possible paths. Being part of the UPM appears as an advantage to Israel, and it’s through the same logic of rapprochement with the EU that the Hebrew state is attempting to get a reassessed ENP status, major asset compared to other EU partners.
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- Origin CERMAM
- http://www.cermam.org/en/logs/dossier/post/
- Publié le 13 August 2008