European Union foreign ministers offered the Israeli government a moment of satisfaction yesterday. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced July 18 that the EU Foreign Affairs Council decided to resume the Association Council meetings with Israel, which lays the legal and political framework for cooperation. Addressing the press, Borrell said that “the ministers exchanged on the resumption of the Association Council meetings with Israel. And they agreed that the Association Council is the highest forum for our bilateral relations. This Association Council has not met since 2012.”
Borrel then emphasized that “the position of the European Union has not changed with respect to the Middle East peace process. We continue with the same Council Conclusion of 2016 supporting the two-state solution. We know that the situation on the ground in the Palestinian territories is deteriorating, and I think — and the ministers agreed — that this Association Council would be a good occasion to engage with Israel about these issues. The date will be agreed mutually with Israel. But first, the European Union member states have to start working and determine a common European Union position, as with any Association Council meeting.”
