Cooperation between Europe and Israel is important, says EU representative in Israel
Giancarlo Chevallard, current head of the EU delegation in Israel believes in the importance of operational and concrete relations between Europe and Israel. Since taking up his post in Tel Aviv in October, Mr Chevallard tells CORDIS News, he has gathered that R&D cooperation 'is a very encouraging success story and is opening the way for other political factors:...And irrespective of the political factors, it opens the way for cooperation in areas such as education, training and aerospace.' Israel's relationship with the EU has not always been so easy, he explains. 'In the '70s Israel worked more with the USA. But in the last few years this has changed and they are moving more to Europe. 'The climate generated by cooperation has made it possible to be more involved in political matters in the region. This is a new phenomenon...I am surprised how much the attitude has changed, [and when] I meet people they stress how important the science and technology agreement has been.' The EU-Israel Association agreement covers all areas of cooperation, and, apart from trade, the first area of structured cooperation was science and technology. 'I hope Israel will be able to cooperate in the future,' says Chevallard. 'Cooperation is extremely important for security, socially and economically. In these terms, science and technology is a small fish.' Yet, he continues, it is important to Europe to have cooperation in the area of science and technology in the region, particularly as there is less potential for similar cooperation with other Middle Eastern countries that are not at the same level of development. Each side has something to learn from the other, he concludes. 'Mobility [of researchers] here is better than in Europe,' he says as an example. 'It's an immigration society, so there has to be recognition of the academic qualifications of others. Europe can learn from this, but also Israel can learn from Europe.' The next EU-Israel association committee meeting is planned for 21 May 2001.