Parliament approves EU-Israel scientific cooperation agreement
The European Parliament has approved the conclusion of an agreement on scientific and technical cooperation between the EU and Israel, rejecting an amendment put forward for the termination of the procedure. Israel participates in the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) as an equal partner, meaning that it has the same rights and obligations as EU Member States. The only exception is CREST, the Scientific and Technical Research Committee, in which Israel has only observer status. During the course of FP6, Israel is expected to contribute 191.9 million euro to the programme. Israel and the EU have been cooperating in the fields of science and technology since 1975, and the agreement has been regulated since 1996. The amendment by the Green/EFA group, calling for the rejection of the agreement, was voted down by 358 against, compared to 56 in favour and 14 abstentions. Rapporteur Godelieve Quisthoudt-Rowohl acknowledged the political sensitivities involved in such an agreement when reporting on the Commission proposal, but gave it her backing, believing that it will do more good than harm. 'From the point of view of research policy, the Agreement is warmly to be welcomed. Researchers and research institutes in the European Union and undertakings stand to benefit from cooperation. As regards the political situation, it may help ease the tensions, since it will also enable Palestinian researchers and institutions to work together with Israeli and European institutes. Your rapporteur therefore recommends that the agreement be adopted,' wrote Ms Quisthoudt-Rowohl.
Kraje
Israel