Penders, J.

Archive of European Integration

European Communities EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Working Documents 1983-1984 25 March 1983 OOCUMFNT 1-63/83 REPORT drawn up on behalf of the Political Affairs Committee on diplomatic relations between Greece and Israel Rapporteur: Mr J. PENDERS English Edition PE 7 3.158/fin. Pursuant to Rule 25 of the Rules of Procedure, the European Parliament decided at its sitting of 17 December 1980 to refer the motion for a resolution tabled by Mr de COURCY LING and others on diplomatic relations between Greece and Israel (Doc. 1-742/80) to the Political Affairs Committee. At its meeting of 21 and 22 January 1981, the Political Affairs Committee decided to draw up a report on this subject. At its meeting of 21 to 23 April 1981, it appointed Mr BLUMENFELD rapporteur. At its meeting of 22 to 24 March 1982, it appointed Mr PENDERS new rapporteur as Mr BLUMENFELD was no longer a member of the Political Affairs Committee. It considered the draft report at its meetings of 13 to 15 May 1981, 23 to 25 September 1981, 27 and 28 October 1981, 2 to 4 December 1981 and 14 to 16 March 1983. At the latter meeting, the motion for a resolution was adopted by 16 votes to 1 with 3 abstentions. The following took part in the vote: Mr Rumor, chairman; Mr Haagerup, first vice-chairman; Mr Penders, rapporteur; Mr Balfe (deputizing for Mr Lomas>, Mr Beyer de Rijke (deputizing for Mr Berkhouwer),Mr Bournias, Mr Deschamps, Mrs Gaiotti de Biase <deputizing for Mr Antoniozzi>; Mr Habsburg, Lord Harmar-Nicholls (deputizing for Mr Fergusson), Mr Israel <deputizing for Mr de la Malene), Mrs Lenz, Mr Majonica (Deputizing for Mr Klepsch>, Mr Newton Dunn, Mr Normanton <deputizing for Lady Elles), Lord O'Hagan, Mr d'Ormesson, Mr Radoux (deputizing for Mr Van Miert>, Mr Schall and Mr Segre. The Political Affairs Committee tabled the report on 17 March 1983. -3- PE 73.158/fi~ C 0 N T E N T S A. MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• B. EXPLANATORY STATEMENT •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ANNEX: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION tabled by Mr de·:tOURCY LING and others on diplomatic relations between Greece and 5 6 Israel (Doc. 1-742/80) •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 9 · - 4 - PE 73.158/fin. A The Political Affairs Committee hereby submits to the European Parliament the following motion for a resolution together with explanatory statement: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION ------------------------on diplomatic relations between Greece and Israel Ib~-~yrge~!o_e!r!i!m~o!, - having regard to the EC - Israel agreement and its protocols, - having regard to the motion for a resolution tabled by Mr de COURCY LING and others on diplomatic relations between Greece and Israel (Doc. 1-742/80, - having regard to the report of the Political Affairs Committee (Doc. 1-63/83) - whereas Greece is the only Community country which does not at present have ty!! diplomatic relations with Israel but has recognized the PLO, 1. Wishes to see the Greek Government enter into consultations with the Government of Israel leading to the establishment of full diplom-atic relations. between the two countries; 2. Instructs its President to forward this resolution and the committee's report to the Council, the Foreign Ministers of the ten Member States meeting in political cooperation and to the Commission of the European Communities, as well as to the governments and parl-iaments of Greece and Israel. - 5 - PE 73.158/fin. B ~!~ba~ar2B!-~rar~~~~I !Q_e!!£1i£!!_1!!!!£ Greece has recognized Israel. The two countries have 'diplomatic representation' in Tel Aviv and Athens respe<tively. To date the Greek Government has not responded to the readiness expressed by the Israeli authorities to establish dip~ lomatic relations at a higher level. In December 1981 Athens recognized the PLO and established diplomatic relations with the PLO at the same level as that which it entertained with Israel. What effect would the adoption of this motion for a resolution have? There are a number of things which it would Q21 affect and a number of things which it would affect. It would not affect the following: 1. Both countries state that their relations are not totally unsat-isfactory. Contacts do exist. 2. There is a substantial difference between the European Ca.munities <EC> and EurQpean Political Cooperation <EPC> in that the EC are a supernational form of cooperation whereas EPS is an inter-governmental form of cooperaHon. 3. The nature .of the 'acquis politique' is different from that of the 'acquis communautaire'. The 'acquis communautaire' is a product of the application of the EC Treaties; the 'acquis politique' is a product of the application of the rules of diplomacy. 4. .Consequently, accession to th~ EC Treaties does not automatically mean acceptance of the 'acquis politique', however desirable that mig~t appear from the point of view of the consolidation of the CommunHies. 5. The question of the establishment of diplomatic relations by Member States is not a matter for t~e EC or EPC to decide but a matter which is to be decided pre-eminently by the Member States themselves, i.e. in the case in point by Greece. - 6 - PE 73.158/fin. It would affect the following: 1. With the exception of Greece, all the Member States have established full diplomatic relations with Israel. This fact entails no obligation for Athens but it is an argument for Greece to consider the establishment of full relations. 2. Greece acts as a link between Europe and the Arab world. Greece entertains excellent relations with the Arab states. It also has excellent contacts with the Palestinians. Athens can only take full advantage of its position - and this is also of importance to the Community - if, at the same time, it enjoys optimum diplomatic relations with Israel. 3. Greece will occupy the presidency of the Council as from 1 July. The absence of full diplomatic relations could result in embarrassing situations. 4. It might be advisable for the President of the Council to undertake a fresh fact-finding tour of the Middle East ( e.g. Thorn, van der Klaauw, Thorn). Optimum relations with Israel are not a prerequisite here but would nonetheless be of great assistance. 5. When Athens assumes the presidency of the Council, it will also assume the chairmanship of Political Cooperation. 6. Ireland established full diplomatic relations with Israel in December 1974 just before taking over the Presidency of the Council on 1 January 1975. 7. A situation similar to the Greek dilemma but involving Spain-which has no diplomatic relations with Israel -will have to be avoided in a few years' time. 8. The previous Greek government <Karamanlis, Rallis) turned its gaze mainly to the West (EC, NATO). It is precisely the PASOK government with its excellent relations with the Arab world which could make the generous gesture of expanding its relations with Israel. - 7 - PE 73.158/fin. 9. The European Parliament cannot force the hand of Greece, nor does it wish to do so. It merely invites Greece discreetly and court-eously to establish full diplo.atic relations with Israel. - 8 - PE 73.158/fin. MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (Doc. 1-742/80) tabled by Mr de COURCY LING, Mrs CHARZAT, Mr BLUMENFELD, Mr BEYER de RYKE, Mr DELEAU, Mr d'ORMESSON, Mr SASSANO and Mr SCHWENCKE pursuant to Rule 25 of the Rules of Procedure on diplomatic relations between Greece and Israel - having regard to Article 210 of the Treaty of Rome and the EC-Israel Agreement, - noting that Member States have full diplomatic relations with Israel and that Greece does not currently have such relations, in view of the imminent accession of Greece to the European Community, 1. Expresses its confidence that, in due course, the Greek Government will joint their partners in having full diplomatic relations with Israel following accession to the European Community on 1 January 1981; 2. Asks the President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission of the EC, as well as the Government and Parliament of Greece. - 9 -PE 73.1581fin/Ann 

Report drawn up on behalf of the Political Affairs Committee on diplomatic relations between Greece and Israel. Working Documents 1983-1984, Document 1-63/83, 25 March 1983

Report drawn up on behalf of the Political Affairs Committee on diplomatic relations between Greece and Israel. Working Documents 1983-1984, Document 1-63/83, 25 March 1983

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Archive of European Integration