7-Year European Neighborhood Negotiations Almost Complete

European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy, Štefan Füle, issued this press release on the ENP a few days ago: 

Important Quotes from the Document

 "the ENP is a prime example of the European Union's comprehensive approach to foreign policy - using all instruments in a coherent way under the umbrella of the ENP – from Common Foreign and Security Policy, to political cooperation, trade policy, and also sector policies such as transport and energy."

"Negotiations for the 2014-2020 European Neighbourhood Instrument regulation are nearing conclusion, and here I want to underline the importance of ensuring sufficient flexibility in the implementation of our financial instrument in the future so that we can react to unpredictable developments in the region. It is also important that both the European Parliament and the Member States finalise negotiations swiftly so that there is no interruption in our financial assistance to partners in 2014."

"I am also pleased that funding for the ENP was confirmed at the current levels for the next European Union Multiannual Financial Framework, despite the overall decrease of the European Union budget."

"At the regional level, the Arab-Israeli conflict remains unsolved and also prevents full regional cooperation in the South Mediterranean. We hope that following last Friday's announcement of a return to direct peace talks, we may finally see progress in negotiations between Israel and Palestine."

Click here to read the document 

Commentary/Speculation

 Recall that the EU used the ENP framework to implement its new settlement funding ban on the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Recall this statement from an EU diplomat:

"This is important in view of the new opportunities that will be offered to Israel (as an ENP [European Neighborhood Policy] partner) for participation in EU programmes and other funding instruments in the 2014-2020 financial framework,"

Also recall that the EU threatens to impose more measures against Israel if peace talks fail.  

Meanwhile, the Council of the European Union Foreign Ministers would like to make a "constructive contribution" to the peace talks. German Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, also hoped for a "historical breakthrough." They are supposed to speak to John Kerry TODAY.*

Keep in mind that with all this EU-Israel 7 year agreement stuff, peace talks are now beginning tonight.

Perhaps the Europeans will enforce a peace arrangement against Israel, based on the ENP?

Just speculation. Only God knows for sure how close we are.

But keep looking up.


Footnote: *I am not sure if the Wall Street Journal (or myself) are mixed up on this point, because some sources indicate the conference already happened last Monday.