EU cooperation with Israel on major common challenges, the political and economic situation, the refugee crisis and the peace process main focus of Manfred Weber’s trip to the Middle East.

Cooperation between the EU, Israel and Jordan on major common challenges such as security, the fight against terrorism, but also research, the political situation between Israel and Palestine and its implications, the economic conditions in Palestine, the support of the Jordanian Government in the refugee crisis and the role of the EU, will be the focus of a three-day visit to the region, from 19 to 22 July, by Manfred Weber MEP, the Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament.

The first stop will be Jordan. There, Manfred Weber will visit the Zaatari refugee camp near the Syrian border and will have talks with local officials on the situation of the refugees. In the afternoon, he will visit a Palestinian refugee camp in Amman and have talks with the Planning Minister Imad Fakhoury, who is responsible for the management and integration of refugees and for relations with the EU on migration issues.

Israel is Weber’s second stop. There, he will have high-level bilateral talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He will also meet with several Knesset members. Furthermore, he will visit the Holocaust Memorial Yad Vashem and participate in a memorial ceremony.

Concluding his visit, the EPP Group Chairman will visit the Palestinian areas controlled by the Palestinian autonomy authorities. There, he will meet with Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and high-ranking representatives of the authorities. In the evening, he will have meetings with representatives of religious communities in Jerusalem.