RECOMMENDATION on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the State of Israel, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Community and the State of Israel on the general principles governing the State of Israel’s participation in Community programmes

11.11.2008 - (5471/2008 – COM(2007)0713 – C6-0180/2008 – 2007/0241(AVC)) - ***

Committee on Foreign Affairs
Rapporteur: Véronique De Keyser

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the State of Israel, of the other part, on a Framework Agreement between the European Community and the State of Israel on the general principles governing the State of Israel’s participation in Community programmes

(5471/2008 – COM(2007)0713 – C6-0180/2008 – 2007/0241(AVC))

(Assent procedure)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the proposal for a Council decision (COM(2007)0713),

–   having regard to the text of the Council (5471/2008),–       having regard to the request for assent submitted by the Council pursuant to Article 300(3), second subparagraph, in conjunction with Article 300(2), first subparagraph, first and second sentences, and Article 310 of the EC Treaty (C6-0180/2008),

–   having regard to Rules 75 and 83(7) of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A6-0436/2008),

1.  Gives its assent to conclusion of the Protocol;

2.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and the Commission, and to the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the State of Israel.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

As part of its European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) put in place in 2004, the European Union gives ENP member countries the possibility of participating in certain Community programmes and Community agencies. This draft recommendation deals with the participation of the State of Israel in Community programmes.

Such participation in Community programmes must be expressly requested by the country concerned and follows a clearly defined procedure: negotiation of a framework agreement, submission to the assent procedure and then, for each request for participation in a programme, drafting of a memorandum of understanding to be signed by both parties. Not all Community programmes are concerned, since their objectives and above all their statutes do not allow this. There are therefore three categories of programmes[1]: those open to participation[2], those for which cooperation is possible[3] and those which are completely closed to any type of participation and cooperation[4].

Participation by ENP partner countries is therefore arranged on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the specific situation of each country. The financial contribution linked to such participation depends on the specific criteria of the programme concerned and is covered by a contribution by the partner country or, in certain cases, from the EU budget, which allows all ENP countries to take part without discrimination.

The State of Israel has already cooperated for a number of years in Community programmes whose statutes allowed for cooperation with third countries, such as the research framework programme, in which Israel has participated since the fourth programme. The European Union is the second largest source of funding for research in Israel and Israel expects to contribute a total of EUR 440 million in connection with the Seventh Framework Programme for Research (2007-2013). Furthermore, Israel is the first ENP country to apply to participate in Community programmes and particularly in the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme. This programme is divided into three parts; an agreement has been signed on the first part and negotiations are under way about participation in the other two. The State of Israel has also expressed interest in the 'Culture' and 'Media 2007' programmes. There is however a problem here: to be eligible for these two programmes, countries must have ratified the UNESCO charter on cultural diversity. Not having yet ratified this charter, the State of Israel cannot at the moment take the necessary steps to participate in these programmes.

This draft recommendation is accompanied by a draft resolution setting out the political priorities involved in this agreement.

• [1]  The list of these programmes is available on the European Commission website: http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/documents_en.htm
• [2]  Programme of Community Action in the field of Consumer Policy, Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme, etc.
• [3]  Marco Polo, Life-Long Learning, Culture, Media 2007, Youth in Action, Seventh Framework Programme for Research, etc.
• [4]  Life +, European Union Solidarity Fund, etc.

PROCEDURE

Title	Israel’s participation in Community programmes
References	05471/2008 – C6-0180/2008 – COM(2007)0713 – 2007/0241(AVC)
Date of request for Parliament’s assent	23.4.2008
Committee responsible        Date announced in plenary	AFET 8.5.2008
Committee(s) asked for opinion(s)        Date announced in plenary	INTA 8.5.2008
Not delivering opinions        Date of decision	INTA 18.12.2007
Rapporteur(s)        Date appointed	Véronique De Keyser 27.11.2007
Previous rapporteur(s)	Jacek Saryusz-Wolski
Simplified procedure - date of decision	27.11.2007
Discussed in committee	7.10.2008		4.11.2008
Date adopted	6.11.2008
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	43 5 3
Members present for the final vote	Vittorio Agnoletto, Roberta Alma Anastase, André Brie, Philip Claeys, Véronique De Keyser, Giorgos Dimitrakopoulos, Michael Gahler, Georgios Georgiou, Ana Maria Gomes, Jana Hybášková, Jelko Kacin, Metin Kazak, Maria Eleni Koppa, Joost Lagendijk, Vytautas Landsbergis, Johannes Lebech, Francisco José Millán Mon, Philippe Morillon, Pasqualina Napoletano, Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, Janusz Onyszkiewicz, Ria Oomen-Ruijten, Ioan Mircea Paşcu, João de Deus Pinheiro, Hubert Pirker, Samuli Pohjamo, Bernd Posselt, Michel Rocard, Michel Rocard, Libor Rouček, Christian Rovsing, Flaviu Călin Rus, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, Inese Vaidere, Geoffrey Van Orden, Marcello Vernola, Kristian Vigenin, Andrzej Wielowieyski, Jan Marinus Wiersma, Zbigniew Zaleski, Josef Zieleniec
Substitute(s) present for the final vote	Árpád Duka-Zólyomi, Kinga Gál, Milan Horáček, Marie Anne Isler Béguin, Tunne Kelam, Nickolay Mladenov, Inger Segelström, Jean Spautz
Substitute(s) under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote	Wolfgang Bulfon, Rosa Miguélez Ramos