Delegation for relations with Israel. MINUTES of the meeting of 26 May 2016, Brussels

Transcription

1 European Parliament Delegation for relations with Israel D-IL_PV(2016)0526_1 MINUTES of the meeting of 26 May 2016, Brussels The meeting opened at on Thursday, 26 May 2016, with Bas Belder (Vice-Chair of the Delegation) presiding. 1. Adoption of the draft agenda (PE ) The draft agenda was adopted without changes. 2. Approval of the minutes of the meeting of 9 March 2016 (PE ) The minutes of the meetings of 9 March 2016 were approved without changes. 3. Chair's announcements On behalf of the Chairman Fulvio Martusciello, the Vice-Chair welcomed all those attending the meeting. He thanked the representative of the EEAS, Mr Lucas CIBOR, for his participation in the delegation meeting as well as the three guest speakers. He gave the floor to Mr Cibor for a brief presentation of the state of play of relations between the EU and Israel. During his introductory remarks, Mr Cibor informed that the EU will also continue its highlevel structured dialogue with Israel on Palestinian socio-economic development and the preservation of the two-state solution. As explained recently by the HR/VP during her intervention in Strasbourg, this dialogue is part of efforts to put a stop to the wave of demolitions and confiscations, including of EU-funded humanitarian structures that we have witnessed since the start of this year. The EU is looking into possible dates for the next round of the EU-Israel Counter-Terrorism dialogue. An Association Council with Israel could take place in July, but the date is currently still being discussed. Regarding the latest domestic developments in Israel, the EU is concerned about a number of legislative proposals promoted under the current government, and in particular the NGO Bill and the bill to allow the Knesset to expel individual members. One of the first challenges of the expanded government, and of Lieberman as Defence Minister, will be to maintain calm PV\ doc PE v01.00 United in diversity

2 during the holy month of Ramadan which runs this year from 5 June to 5 July. 4/5. Presentations by the three guest speakers: During the exchange of views on the building blocks of the Israeli innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, the first speaker, Ms Inbal Arieli, highlighted the success of start-ups in Israel, which she described as "a start-up nation". She also underlined that Israel ranked 3 rd on the world map of innovation, which is diversified, and entrepreneurship. She underlined the decisive role of public/private expenditure in R&D, in military technology and investment of venture capital in Hi-tech. Israel is the home of a well-established start-up ecosystem. The existence of "incubators" of early-stage innovation and the use of hi-tech in entrepreneurship ensures the security of the future development of Israel. Israel attracts 85% of foreign investment in hi-tech. Mr Oren Modai made a very interesting presentation on the Start-up cities in Europe, which attract talents, create employment for young people and promote innovation. The speaker stressed the fact that Capital Cities are not targeted for setting up start-ups; they focus mainly on small towns and villages with a particular economic potential. He gave some examples of successful enterprises located in small towns and villages in Europe. He expressed his disappointment with the fact that the Palestinians did not take advantage of this possibility. During the exchange of views on the changing Middle East and the US administration, Professor Kenneth Stein painted a bleak picture of the Middle East in view of the upcoming presidential elections in the USA, since neither Trump nor Clinton have no clear foreign policy. According to him, the next president of the USA will not succeed in improving the situation in the region. The duress will continue. Russia will play a stronger role in the region. He advised the Europeans to pay due attention to the situation and coordinate their efforts in devising a viable policy towards the Middle East. During the discussion, MEP Arne Leitz (S&D/DE) agreed that setting up start-ups involved a certain degree of risk, like in politics. He also asked questions on the conflict between Israel and Palestine and its consequences on the economic and social development of the region, about the viability of the two-state-solution to the conflict, the opportunities conferred by Horizon 2020 in knowledge transfer between the EU and Israel. Referring to the analysis of Professor Stein, MEP Arne Gericke (ECR/DE wondered whom to trust in politics and how to change the minds of the future generation about politics. He admitted that there was an urgent need of a change in the mind-set of the young generations in shaping up better relations between neighbours. The Vice-Chair, Bastian Belder (ECR/NL) concluded the meeting on a more positive note by agreeing with the speakers on the important role of technology that might help get away from powerful emotions and build bridges between peoples and countries. 6. Any other business None 7. Next meeting The next meeting will take place in Brussels on 27 June PE v /6 PV\ doc

3 The meeting closed at (without interpretation for 20 minutes). PV\ doc 3/6 PE v01.00

4 ПРИСЪСТВЕН ЛИСТ/LISTA DE ASISTCIA/PREZČNÍ LISTINA/DELTAGERLISTE/ ANWESHEITSLISTE/KOHALOLIJATE NIMEKIRI/ΚΑΤΑΣΤΑΣΗ ΠΑΡΟΝΤΩΝ/RECORD OF ATTDANCE/ LISTE DE PRÉSCE/POPIS NAZOČNIH/ELCO DI PRESZA/APMEKLĒJUMU REĢISTRS/DALYVIŲ SĄRAŠAS/ JELLÉTI ÍV/REĠISTRU TA' ATTDZA/PRESTIELIJST/LISTA OBECNOŚCI/LISTA DE PRESÇAS/ LISTĂ DE PREZŢĂ/PREZČNÁ LISTINA/SEZNAM NAVZOČIH/LÄSNÄOLOLISTA/DELTAGARLISTA Bureau Bas Belder. Members Arne Lietz, Branislav Škripek. Substitutes 200 (2) 206 (3) Arne Gericke (EMPL), Antonio Tajani (ITRE). 53 (6) Agenda item Ms Inbal Arieli, Vice-President, Start-Up Nation Central, Tel Aviv Mr Oren Modai, CEO, Tel Aviv Start-Up Mission Prof. Kenneth W. Stein, Director of the Emory Institute for the Study of Modern Israel and President of the Center for Israel Education Pt 4 Pt 5 PE v /6 PV\ doc

5 Council Commission Beatrice Gianfreda, DG Near, Dir A Strategy and Turkey, Inter- institutional Relations and Communication. European External Action service Lucas Cibor, Middle East and North Africa Department Michela Pavoncello, General Affairs 2 Nicolas Levine, General Affairs 2 Claudia Rodriguez-Garza, MA 2. Other institutions Other participants Secretariats of political groups PPE S&D ECR ALDE Verts/ALE GUE/NGL EFDD F NI Ilie Loredana, Mikela Jurica Geroge, Joanna Jarecka-Gomez. Elise Coolegem, Zlatko Balaz. Thierry Masson. Karin Schüttpelz. President's Office Secretary-General's Office PV\ doc 5/6 PE v01.00

6 Directorate-General DG PRES DG IPOL DG EXPO DG EPRS DG COMM DG PERS DG INLO DG TRAD DG INTE DG FINS DG ITEC DG SAFE Legal Service Committee secretariat Aneta Popescu-Black. Assistent Barbara Ajmi. * (P) = Председател/Presidente/Předseda/Formand/Vorsitzender/Esimees/Πρόεδρος/Chair(wo)man/Président/Predsjednik/Priekšsēdētājs/ Pirmininkas/Elnök/'Chairman'/Voorzitter/Przewodniczący/Preşedinte/Predseda/Predsednik/Puheenjohtaja/Ordförande (VP) = Заместник-председател/Vicepresidente/Místopředseda/Næstformand/Stellvertretender Vorsitzender/Aseesimees/Αντιπρόεδρος/ Vice-Chair(wo)man/Potpredsjednik/Vice-Président/Potpredsjednik/Priekšsēdētāja vietnieks/pirmininko pavaduotojas/alelnök/ Viċi 'Chairman'/Ondervoorzitter/Wiceprzewodniczący/Vice-Presidente/Vicepreşedinte/Podpredseda/Podpredsednik/ Varapuheenjohtaja/Vice ordförande (M) = Член/Miembro/Člen/Medlem./Mitglied/Parlamendiliige/Μέλος/Member/Membre/Član/Membro/Deputāts/Narys/Képviselő/ Membru/Lid/Członek/Membro/Membru/Člen/Poslanec/Jäsen/Ledamot (F) = Длъжностно лице/funcionario/úředník/tjenestemand/beamter/ametnik/υπάλληλος/official/fonctionnaire/dužnosnik/ Funzionario/Ierēdnis/Pareigūnas/Tisztviselő/Uffiċjal/Ambtenaar/Urzędnik/Funcionário/Funcţionar/Úradník/Uradnik/Virkamies/ Tjänsteman PE v /6 PV\ doc