3rd EU-Israel Strategic Dialogue: Regional Cooperation and Stabilization in the Middle East

Turning a Challenge into an Opportunity

The Third EU-Israel Strategic Dialogue, organized by the Forum of Strategic Dialogue (FSD) and the European Leadership Network (ELNET) EU & NATO in close cooperation with our Brussels partner, the European Policy Centre (EPC), further developed the outcome of the previous roundtable and continued to focus on regional cooperation and stabilization in the Middle East. The participants of the EU-Israel Dialogue included a select mix of high-level representation from the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Commission, the Council of the EU as well as senior Israeli current and former officials, experts, and civil society representatives. The Dialogue included a dinner with two keynote speeches from an EU and Israeli perspective.

The keynote speakers gave valuable insights on the ongoing geo-political transformations in the region, laid out possible scenarios for the MENA region and discussed strategic implications for EU-Israel relations. Above all the two high level speakers also focused on Iran’s role in the region.

The various sessions discussed regional upheavals from Syria to Yemen, potential cooperation on countering terrorism (CT) between the EU and Israel, trade and economic cooperation as a catalyst for growing regional links, water security in the Middle East, as well as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its role for the region.