Lapid, who is also Alternate Prime Minister, has vowed to ”change, improve and deepen the dialogue” between Israel and Europe after years of political tension.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid will travel to Brussels on Monday (July 12) to participate in the Foreign Affairs Council with the 27 EU Foreign Ministers at the invitation of EU’s foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell. 

EU foreign policy spokesperson Peter Stano confirmed the meeting to European Jewish Press.

This will be the second visit abroad by the new Israeli Foreign Minister since his appointment in June as part of the new coalition government led by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. Last week he travelled to the UAE for the inauguration of Israel’s embassy in Abu Dhabi and its consulate general in Dubai.

Lapid, who is also Alternate Prime Minister, has vowed to ”change, improve and deepen the dialogue” between Israel and Europe after years of political tension.

Speaking at a hand-over ceremony in the foreign ministry last month, Lapid stressed that ‘’with the countries of the European Union our situation  is not good enough. Our relationship with too many governments with too many governments has been neglected and become hostile. Shouting that everyone is antisemitic isn’t a policy or a work plan, even if it sometimes feels right.’’

In a phone call, Borrell then ‘’warmly congratulated’’ Lapid for his appointment said they discussed ‘’the importance of strengthening the bilateral partnership and promoting security and peace in the region,’’adding that he ‘’looked forward welcoming him soon in Brussels.’’

‘’Foreign Minister Lapid is keen on changing the atmosphere of EU-Israel relations and start a new dialogue,’’ Lior Hayat, spokesperson of the Israeli foreign ministry, told an online briefing organized Wednesday for European journalists by the Europe Israel Press Association (EIPA).

‘’Relations with Europe are probably the most important we have after our alliance with the United States,’’ he said.

But while there will be ‘’a change in the messaging’’, he stressed that there have been a lot of accomplishments in recent years between Israel and the EU in various fields.

Israel’s relations with the EU ‘’is a priority’’ for Lapid, Maya Sion-Tzidkiyahu, Israeli expert on EU-Israel relations at the Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies (Mitvim).

Among the topics that Lapid is likely to raise during his meeting with the EU ministers is  the convening of the EU-Israel Association Council, the highest level bilateral body, which has not met since July 2012 due to political disagreements on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He will also raise the pressing issue of nuclear Iran.

Mihai Sebastin Chihai, a leading policy analyst on EU-Middle East relations at the European Policy Center (EPC) predicts more political dialogue, more cooperation and interaction as well as high level visits between the EU and Israel under the new Israeli Foreign Minister.