European Neighborhood Policy

European Neighborhood Policy

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  • The Israeli-EU Action Plan

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    Israel and the EU have successfully concluded negotiations over a joint Action Plan (AP) as part of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP). The AP was adapted by the GAERC Council in December 2004.
     
    The adoption of the AP will create new opportunities of cooperation within its three chapters: Political, Economic and Trade, and People to People. All of these may serve as a new platform for further deepening the ties beyond the Association Agreement. “Israel and the European Union are neighbors, sharing seas, environment, common ideas and values, and of course strategic interests”- said Foreign minister Shalom upon the adoption of the AP, adding that this development “proved once again that we can build a reality of not only geographic proximity, as a direct result of this past year’s enlargement, but also of greater partnership and cooperation”.
     
    During the next three years both sides will jointly work to turn the AP into concrete and specific agreements and structured dialogues on the issues mentioned in the AP. These will enhance the dialogue on issues such as: Middle East Peace Process, combating terrorism and the struggle against anti-Semitism.
     
    Acting on the issues mentioned in the economic chapter will help both sides to maximize the benefits of their bilateral relation and mutual trade. A stronger emphasis on people to people relations as stipulated in the AP will hopefully increase the mutual understanding between the enlarged E.U. and Israel.

    The Action Plan concluded under the European Neighbourhood Policy with Israel helped give new energy and focus to EU-Israel relations. Its objective is to gradually integrate Israel into European policies and programmes. Every step taken is determined by both sides and the Action Plan is tailor-made to reflect Israel’s interests and priorities as well as its level of development.
     
    In order to implement the AP 10 subcommittees have been established:
     
     
    1.       Political, dialogue and cooperation.
    2.       Economic and financial matters.
    3.       Social and migration affairs.
    4.       Customs cooperation and taxation.
    5.       Agriculture and fisheries.
    6.       Internal market.
    7.       Industry, trade and services.
    8.       Justice and legal matters.
    9.       Transport, energy and environment.
    10.     Research, innovation, information society, education and culture.
     
     
     
    Documents:
     

  • Twinning co-operation

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    In order to support the implementation of the EU-Israel Action Plan through operations that promote the approximation of Israeli norms and standards to those of the EU, the Twinning co-operation instrument has become available to Israel by the end of 2007. Since 2008 Twinning projects were launched in the field of Data protection, Urban Transport, Equal Employment Opportunities, Veterinary Inspection and Telecommunications. A twinning project in support to Rural Development has been launched in 2013. Twinning projects in preparation concern Statistics, Environmental protection and Energy.

  • The European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI)

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    The ENP action plan provides a general overview of strategic objectives and will deepen or implement EU-Israel co-operation in the areas relating to political dialogue, justice and legal matters, industry and trade, research and innovation as well as education and culture.

    Israel benefits from the European Neighbourhood & Partnership Instrument (ENPI), the financial instrument which supports the European Neighbourhood policy through concrete assistance actions. For the first time, in July 2008, the EU and Israel signed a financing agreement to allow support for Israel under the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan. The EU has allocated a total of €14 million for the period 2007-2013 to support such activities.
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