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June 11, 2004/Sivan 22 5764, Vol. 56, No. 38
E.U. elections raise concerns
PHILIP CARMEL
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
PARIS - Many observers agree that the European Parliament has reached new lows with its voting record on Israel during its recent four-year term. How upcoming elections for the Parliament - voters from 25 countries will elect 732 legislators this weekend - will affect that record remains an open question.
For the first time, the 10 Central and Eastern European countries that joined the union May 1 also will take part in elections to the Parliament, the European Union's legi-slative body, a factor that could have a large impact on its composition.
"They're more pro-Israel than what has been the traditional E.U. line," one Israeli diplomatic source said. "We're seeing their influence begin to filter through with the recent blocking of a decla-ration condemning Israel in the European Council."
But "I don't want to get into speculations about which parties might make gains at the elections or which groups are better or worse for us," one source told JTA. "Israel shouldn't get involved in the internal affairs of democratic states in the same way they sometimes do with us."
Some European legislators had not respected that principle, he said, referring to an advertisement placed in the Israeli media recently in which a group of European law-makers condemned Israel for its treatment of conscientious objectors in the army.
The Parliament, which meets in Brussels and Stras-bourg, France, never has been known for its great voting record on Israel.
"The European Parliament over the last four years has continued the tradition of the last 15 years or so" in its relationship toward Israel, the secretary-general of the Euro-pean Jewish Congress, Serge Cwajgenbaum, told JTA. "They have generally shown a lack of balance and they've certainly not been helpful in promoting peace and under-standing in the Middle East."
The Parliament has little influence on E.U. foreign policy, but often speaks out on behalf of Europe regarding various issues, including the Middle East.
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