Parliamentary question

Written question to the European Commission

The EU is carrying out a twinning project with the Israeli government to support the implementation of Israel’s waste management strategy, including through the transfer of know-how on waste-to-energy (WtE) incineration.

Israel’s first WtE plant is to be built in the illegal settlement of Ma’ale Adumim. It would burn Israeli waste in the occupied Palestinian territory, in violation of international law and without consulting the Palestinians. This is currently the only WtE facility being built, as the government froze plans for the construction of other WtE plants in Israel.

Therefore, much of the benefit of the EU twinning project would go to the Ma’ale Adumim plant, even if the EU does not fund it directly. This appears to conflict with the EU’s 2013 guidelines to prevent EU funding flowing to settlements. It also clashes with the EU’s commitment to ensure that twinning projects with Israel contribute to the two-state solution.

1. Can the EU confirm its opposition to the planned Ma’ale Adumim waste facility?

2. Will it stop the twinning project immediately unless Israel stop the Ma’ale Adumim plan?

3. Will it ensure that future twinning projects do not benefit the settlements, and instead contribute to peace?

Answer given by Commissioner Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission

The ongoing Twinning project is supporting Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection in the establishment of an adequate regulatory framework, the implementation of the national strategy and strengthening institutional capacities. The EU does not finance the construction of the waste to energy plant in Ma’ale Adumim and the Twinning project is not involved in the choice of the location of physical infrastructure.

As repeatedly stated in Council Conclusions, the EU and its Member States consider that Israeli settlements in territories occupied by Israel since 1967 are illegal under international law. The EU is also committed to ensure that, in line with international law, all agreements between the State of Israel and the EU must unequivocally and explicitly indicate their inapplicability to the territories occupied by Israel since 1967.

Financing agreements for Twinning projects with Israel include a territorial clause that indicates their inapplicability to the territories occupied by Israel in 1967. They are also subject to the guidelines on the eligibility of Israeli entities and their activities in the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967 for grants, prizes and financial instruments funded by the EU.

Compliance is monitored throughout the project lifecycle, including in steering committees, quarterly progress reports, mission reports and monitoring of activities.

In line with the guidelines, any activity or part thereof included in an application for an EU grant or prize which does not meet the requirements set out in the guidelines is considered as ineligible and not as part of the application for the purpose of its further evaluation.