Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, 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 2022. Ireland supports the agreement, which is a timely initiative that will strengthen energy security across the European Union. The legal framework for the EU-Israel partnership is provided by the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which has been in force since 2000. Similarly, the foundation of the EU-Egypt relationship is the association agreement signed in 2004.

The bilateral relationships between the EU and both Israel and Egypt do not prevent either the European Union or the member states from voicing their opinions on issues of concern, including on human rights and international law, which we do regularly both 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. This is an important expression of the European Union's support for international law and for a negotiated two state solution. The territorial clause is included in an annex to this trilateral agreement.

Ireland and the European Union remain firmly committed to a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The region is part of the EU's neighbourhood. I attended the Union for the Mediterranean Regional Forum in Barcelona on Monday this week. This was an important opportunity to discuss the current conflict in Gaza with my European Union and regional foreign minister counterparts. I had bilateral meetings with the Lebanese, Saudi, Turkish, Belgian, Slovenian and Luxembourg Foreign Ministers. The focus of all the meetings was on developing a credible pathway to peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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