Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for this question and am glad to be able to put a number of things on the record in respect of this agreement. A trilateral memorandum of understanding with Israel and Egypt on co-operation relating to trade, transport and the export of natural gas to the European Union was signed by the European Commission on 15 June in Cairo.

Ireland supports the agreement, which is an important and timely initiative that will strengthen energy security across the EU. The legal framework for the EU-Israel partnership is provided by the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which has been in force since 2000. Israel is part of the European Neighbourhood Policy and benefits from various regional programmes under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument, including in the areas of environment and climate change.

Similarly, the foundation of the EU-Egypt relationship is the association agreement signed in 2004. An EU-Egypt Association Council was held on 19 June in Luxembourg, chaired by the Egyptian foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry, and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.

It is important to acknowledge that the strong bilateral relationships between the EU and both Israel and Egypt do not prevent either the EU or the member states from voicing their opinions on issues of concern, including regarding human rights and international law, which we do regularly, as the Deputy is aware, with both partners bilaterally and in multilateral fora.

With respect to the territorial applicability of this trilateral agreement, it is established EU policy, reflecting UN Security Council Resolution 2334, that all agreements with Israel unequivocally and explicitly indicate their inapplicability to the territories occupied by Israel since 1967. The inclusion of a territorial clause is also an important expression of the EU's support for international law and for a negotiated two-state solution. The territorial clause is included in an annexe to this trilateral agreement.

It is important to say that Ireland and the European Union remain firmly committed to a two-state solution in the Middle East. The region is part of the EU's neighbourhood. Helping our neighbours find a solution allowing them to co-exist peacefully is the right thing to do but it is also in our own interest. I am aware that there is a great deal of interest in this House on this issue.

See this speech in context