The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Israeli Minister of Justice Tzipi Livni made today the following statement:

"Following discussions between Israeli Minister of Justice Tzipi Livni and High Representative Catherine Ashton, the European Union and Israel reached today an agreement on outstanding issues related to Israel's participation in EU Horizon 2020 Programme.

The agreement fully respects the EU's legal and financial requirements while at the same time respecting Israel's political sensitivities and preserving its principled positions.

The agreement reached today takes full account of these constraints. The agreement will allow Israel's scientific community to benefit from one of the most important EU programmes and facilitate its further integration into the European space of research and innovation. This agreement will pave the way for Israel's participation in other EU programmes to be launched from 1 January 2014."

*The original text of this statement was published on November 26 by the European External Action Service and can be found at http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/israel/press_corner/all_news/news/2013/20131127_01_en.htm