Last September I took on my position as EU Ambassador to Israel. Personally, I felt both honoured to be able to represent the European Union in your country and extremely thrilled to come back after 10 years to Israel.
My interest in Israel began 25 years ago when I wrote my Master’s thesis at the University of Florence, on French policy in the Middle East under General De Gaulle. I was certainly intrigued by this young country that made history move so fast and my first PhD research project proposal concerned the relationship between Israel and the European Economic Community. Ultimately, my supervisor moved my historical research in other directions, but the personal interest continued to grow.
In 2002, right in the middle of the second intifada, I visited Israel for the first time and a year later, started my first posting in Tel Aviv where I had four intense professional years. Years I will not forget, also as my first son was born in Ramat Gan at Tel Hashomer hospital. There I exchanged my first looks as a proud father with similarly proud Israeli fathers in a chorus of “Mazal Tov!”
Returning to Israel 10 years later, I found a country that had changed a lot. The metamorphosis of the Tel Aviv skyline tells the story of economic success during the past decade. The EU was close to Israel in these economic achievements. As innovation has become the engine of growth, our partnership in research and development through the EU Framework programmes, has flourished, allowing the Israeli academia and industry to turn its innovative ideas into accomplished and concrete projects; developing strong networks with the best minds and research institutions of Europe.
Trade has continued to grow and while Israel rightly and successfully seeks to diversify its trade partners, the EU’s centrality in Israel's economic standing remains undisputed, as the main and still expanding market for Israel goods, as well as the main source of Israeli imports. Since I arrived last year, I have discovered exactly how some of the new areas of cooperation that were just taking their first tentative steps, became a reality and are changing lives across the Mediterranean: the Open Skies agreement introduced a revolution in air transport and is one of the factors behind the boom in Israel’s tourist industry; the Erasmus+ programme is now bringing students and academic staff in ever larger numbers to and from Europe; technical expertise of European administrations and experts is shared with their counterparts in Israel on an almost weekly basis, to address the challenges of today and prepare for our common future. Our cooperation in the fight against terrorism and to combat anti-Semitism has intensified, sadly because these problems have increased.
Upon my return to Israel, I also found a country that continues to face extreme challenges in the region, as peace remains elusive. The regional shifting security perceptions and the ramifications of the Syrian crisis are creating new challenges and opportunities; the EU remains steadfastly committed to Israel’s security and assists it in addressing these challenges. Although overshadowed by other crises, I remain convinced of the need to urgently address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the two-state solution as the only realistic horizon, despite the obvious difficulties in achieving it.
History, values and geography have created intimate bonds between Europe and Israel that make our relationship unique, and often tainted with emotions. I have taken it upon myself to discuss and engage with all opinions in the country and listen to views that are sometimes critical of the EU, but always interested in a relationship that is of paramount importance.
During my first seven months in Israel as EU Ambassador, I have reconnected with many old friends, and made many new ones - everyone has been exceptionally warm and engaging, even as debate sometimes gets heated. I enjoy immensely exploring the colourfulness of Israeli society, and listening to opinions so diverse and often contradictory. I have to thank all Israelis who make my daily job so incredibly interesting and I look very much forward to the upcoming years.
Emanuele GIAUFRET
Ambassador/Head of Delegation
EU Delegation to Israel