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Alerte Générale

contre l’inclusion d’Israël dans les faveurs de la « politique européenne de voisinage »

vendredi 22 octobre 2004

Toutes les versions de cet article : [English] [français]

La situation créée par la proposition d’inclure Israël dans « The European Neighborhood Policy » soulève l’indignation de toute la Société Civile européenne qui demande au Parlement européen de tout mettre en oeuvre afin, qu’en aucun cas, ce pays qui s’est mis à l’écart de toutes les règles de Droit international, ne puisse bénéficier de nouveaux privilèges et ceci jusqu’à un retour complet au respect de ce même Droit.

Nos mandataires nous demandent dêtre tenus au courant de l’évolution des discussions et entreprennent dès demain lundi 11/10 des démarches auprès de leurs gouvernements respectifs.

Coordination de l’Appel de Strasbourg (1ère mise en ligne 11 octobre 2004)

SUBJECT EU to debate strengthening ties with Israel

EU to debate strengthening ties with Israel

By Reuters

BRUSSELS - The European Union is heading for a row over ties with Israel as it attempts to introduce a major new policy designed to bring the bloc closer to its neighbors, EU diplomats said on Thursday.

The dispute hinges on whether the EU should extend highly advantageous economic and political ties to Israel while at the same time condemning the Jewish state for disproportionate use of force against Palestinians in Gaza.

EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Monday are due to discuss « action plans » to strengthen ties with the enlarged bloc’s new neighbors, under the recently-adopted European Neighborhood Policy.

The ministers will debate the first plans - for Moldova, Ukraine, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, the Palestinian Authority and Israel.

An official of the EU’s Dutch presidency said the plans were due to be adopted by national leaders at a summit on Nov. 5.

The European Neighborhood Policy is designed as a substitute for membership for countries surrounding the bloc, with which the EU would share « everything but institutions ».

Neighbors will be expected to introduce economic and political reforms to achieve EU standards of governance.

In return they would eventually receive free trade, the freedom to move and work across the bloc and all benefits of membership except voting rights and

representation in bodies like the European Parliament and the European Commission.

Diplomats divided But EU ambassadors were deeply divided at a meeting on Wednesday over whether to make such an offer to Israel while the Israeli army was pressing ahead with its biggest offensive in four years in the Gaza Strip, an EU diplomat said.

Israel says the offensive is to stop Palestinian militants firing rockets at Israeli towns.

« Imagine, if the disproportionate use of force is being condemned by everyone, and at the same time the EU offers this magic plan to move Israel and the EU closer to each other — a plan which benefits the Israelis, » the diplomat said.

« At the bottom of this is how we can use for the best our leverage with Israel. After all, they will get everything but institutions. »

Some EU members, including Germany and the Czech Republic, advocate either adopting all seven plans together, or none.

Others, including Sweden, Ireland and Spain, say it is impossible to move forward with Israel at present and suggest adopting some but leaving the most contentious for later.

A Dutch presidency note on Monday’s foreign ministers’ meeting said negotiations on the action plans are concluded with six of the partners but are still continuing with Israel.

The EU is a member of a « Quartet » — with the United States, United Nations and Russia — promoting peace in the Middle East.

Because the action plans are tailor-made for each partner and differ significantly from each other, an EU diplomat said, the EU wanted to include

in the Israeli plan language committing it to a « road map » for peace outlined by the Quartet.

« Israel is resisting any mention of the Quartet or of obligations towards the road map. Without these references the action plan will be difficult for

many member states, to say the least, » the diplomat said.

Other diplomats said the Ukraine plan was also contentious in view of an Oct. 31 presidential election, in which the EU has appealed for a free poll but expressed worries over whether the administration of President Leonid Kuchma will allow one.

Documents about the European Neighborhood Policy Project :

- doc1
- doc2
- doc3
- doc4
- doc5