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PEGylated enzyme replacement therapy designed to provide a long half-life

PARMA, Italy, BOSTON and CARMIEL, Israel, May 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chiesi Global Rare Diseases, a business unit of the Chiesi Group established to deliver innovative therapies and solutions for people affected by rare diseases, and Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American:PLX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins expressed through its proprietary plant cell-based expression system, ProCellEx, today announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorization to PRX-102 (pegunigalsidase alfa) in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of adult patients with Fabry disease.

"People living with Fabry disease often perceive their disease as burdensome and still experience unmet medical needs," said Giacomo Chiesi, head of Chiesi Global Rare Diseases. "Our deepest gratitude to all patients and patient advocates who have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with clinical researchers, scientists and regulators during the clinical development program, providing the data needed for this approval. I believe this is a vital ingredient in bringing innovation to the real lives of patients and enabling hope and definitive, integrated solutions."

"We are delighted that the European Commission has approved PRX-102 for the treatment of adult patients with Fabry disease. The EU authorization is a testament to our commitment to deliver innovative therapies and solutions for people affected by rare diseases," said Diego Ardig, M.D., Ph.D., head of research and development of Global Rare Diseases at the Chiesi Group. "As a certified B Corp we are committed to ensuring access to PRX-102 to as many people living with Fabry disease as possible and thank those who participated in our extensive clinical research program. It is important to deliver this new treatment option to reduce the burden of this chronic disease on patients, their families, and the healthcare system."

"The European Commission's approval of PRX-102 is a significant milestone for patients with Fabry disease and their families, providing a new therapeutic option," said Dror Bashan, Protalix's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are proud of this achievement and believe that this approval further validates our science and technology. Based on solid results from our robust clinical programs, PRX-102 has the potential to be widely used for many years to come. Together with Chiesi, we remain committed to meeting the needs of patients with Fabry disease and bringing this new treatment option to market."

PRX-102 is a PEGylated enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). It is a recombinant human GalactosidaseA enzyme expressed in plant-cell culture that is designed to provide a long half-life.

The EC authorization of PRX-102 is based on results from a comprehensive clinical development program in more than 140 patients with up to 7.5 years of treatment. It has been studied in both ERT-nave and ERT-experienced patients, including a head-to-head trial that met its primary endpoint, with PRX-102 demonstrating non-inferior efficacy to agalsidase beta in controlling kidney disease as evaluated by the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline.

Pegunigalsidase alfa, an investigational new drug product, is currently not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The effectiveness and safety of pegunigalsidase alfa is under review, but has not yet been approved, by the FDA. Prior to FDA review and approval, no conclusions can be drawn on pegunigalsidase alfa's efficacy and safety profile. When seeking expanded access, treating physicians should consider all possible risks of treatment with pegunigalsidase alfa. Access must be compliant with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations. Investigators should not seek reimbursement for product provided to patients who participate in a government funded insurance program.

About Fabry Disease

Fabry disease is an Xlinked inherited disease that results from deficient activity of the lysosomal GalactosidaseA enzyme resulting in progressive accumulation of abnormal deposits of a fatty substance called globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) in the lysosomes throughout a person's body. Fabry disease occurs in one person per 40,000 to 60,000. Fabry patients inherit a deficiency of the GalactosidaseA enzyme, which is normally responsible for the breakdown of Gb3. The abnormal storage of Gb3 increases with time and, accordingly, Gb3 accumulates, primarily in the blood vessel and tissues. The ultimate consequences of Gb3 deposition range from episodes of pain and impaired peripheral sensation to end-organ failure.

About PRX102

PRX102 (pegunigalsidase alfa) is a PEGylated enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) to treat Fabry disease that is now approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and is under evaluation by the FDA. PRX-102 is a plant cell culture-expressed, and chemically modified stabilized recombinant version of the GalactosidaseA enzyme. Protein sub-units are covalently bound via chemical cross-linking using short PEG moieties, resulting in a molecule with stable pharmacokinetic parameters. In clinical studies, PRX102 has been observed to have a circulatory half-life of approximately 80 hours.

About Chiesi Global Rare Diseases

Chiesi Global Rare Diseases is a business unit of the Chiesi Group established to deliver innovative therapies and solutions for people affected by rare diseases. As a family business, Chiesi Group strives to create a world where it is common to have a therapy for all diseases and acts as a force for good, for society and the planet. The goal of the Global Rare Diseases unit is to ensure equal access so as many people as possible can experience their most fulfilling life. The unit collaborates with the rare disease community around the globe to bring voice to underserved people in the health care system.

For more information visit http://www.chiesirarediseases.com.

About Chiesi Group

Chiesi is an international, research-focused biopharmaceuticals group that develops and markets innovative therapeutic solutions in respiratory health, rare diseases, and specialty care. The company's mission is to improve people's quality of life and act responsibly towards both the community and the environment.

By changing its legal status to a Benefit Corporation in Italy, the US, and France, Chiesi's commitment to create shared value for society as a whole is legally binding and central to company-wide decision-making. As a certified B Corp since 2019, we're part of a global community of businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental impact. The company aims to reach Net-Zero greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions by 2035.

With over 85 years of experience, Chiesi is headquartered in Parma (Italy), operates in 31 countries, and counts more than 6,500 employees. The Group's research and development centre in Parma works alongside 6 other important R&D hubs in France, the US, Canada, China, the UK, and Sweden.

For further information please visit http://www.chiesi.com.

About Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.

Protalix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins expressed through its proprietary plant cell-based expression system, ProCellEx. It is the first company to gain FDA approval of a protein produced through plant cell-based in suspension expression system. This unique expression system represents a new method for developing recombinant proteins in an industrial-scale manner. Protalix has licensed to Pfizer Inc. the worldwide development and commercialization rights to taliglucerase alfa, Protalix's first product manufactured through ProCellEx, excluding in Brazil, where Protalix retains full rights.

Protalix's development pipeline consists of proprietary versions of recombinant therapeutic proteins that target established pharmaceutical markets, including the following product candidates: pegunigalsidase alfa, a modified stabilized version of the recombinant human -Galactosidase-A protein for the treatment of Fabry disease; PRX-115, a plant cell-expressed recombinant PEGylated uricase for the treatment of severe gout; PRX-119, a plant cell-expressed long action DNase I for the treatment of NETs-related diseases; and others. Protalix has partnered with Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., both in the United States and outside the United States, for the development and commercialization of pegunigalsidase alfa.

Protalix's Forward-Looking Statements

To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical, all such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The terms "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "project," "may," "plan," "will," "would," "should" and "intend," and other words or phrases of similar import are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual future experience and results to differ materially from the statements made. These statements are based on Protalix's current beliefs and expectations as to such future outcomes. Factors that might cause material differences include, among others: risks related to the timing, progress and likelihood of final approval by the FDA of the resubmitted Biologics License Application (BLA) by the PDUFA action date, if at all, and, if approved, whether the FDA will impose significant limitations on the use of PRX102; risks related to the commercial success of PRX-102, and of Protalix's other product and product candidates, if approved; the likelihood that the FDA, EMA or other applicable health regulatory authorities will approve an alternative dosing regimen; failure or delay in the commencement or completion of preclinical studies and clinical trials of our other product candidates which may be caused by several factors, including: slower than expected rates of patient recruitment; unforeseen safety issues; determination of dosing issues; lack of effectiveness during clinical trials; inability to satisfactorily demonstrate non-inferiority to approved therapies; inability or unwillingness of medical investigators and institutional review boards to follow our clinical protocols; and inability to monitor patients adequately during or after treatment; delays in the approval or potential rejection of any applications we file with the FDA, EMA or other health regulatory authorities for our other product candidates, and other risks relating to the review process; risks associated with the novel coronavirus disease, or COVID19, outbreak, which may adversely impact our business, preclinical studies and clinical trials; the risk that the results of the clinical trials of our product candidates will not support the applicable claims of safety or efficacy, or that our product candidates will not have the desired effects or will be associated with undesirable side effects or other unexpected characteristics; risks related to our ability to maintain and manage our relationship with our collaborators, distributors or partners; our dependence on performance by third party providers of services and supplies, including without limitation, clinical trial services; the inherent risks and uncertainties in developing drug platforms and products of the type we are developing; the impact of development of competing therapies and/or technologies by other companies and institutions; potential product liability risks, and risks of securing adequate levels of product liability and other necessary insurance coverage; and other factors described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The statements in this press release are valid only as of the date hereof and we disclaim any obligation to update this information, except as may be required by law.

Chiesi Group Media ContactChiara TravaginRare Communication ManagerTel: +39 348 8818985Email c.travagin@chiesi.com

Alessio PappagalloPress Office ManagerTel: +39 339 5897483Email a.pappagallo@chiesi.com

Adam DaleyBerry & Company Public Relations1-212-253-8881adaley@berrypr.com

Protalix Investor ContactChuck Padala, Managing DirectorLifeSci Advisors646-627-8390chuck@lifesciadvisors.com

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SOURCE Chiesi Global Rare Diseases; Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.

Company Codes: AMEX:PLX

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Chiesi Global Rare Diseases and Protalix BioTherapeutics ... - BioSpace

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says toxic pesticides reportedly imported and sold in Nigeria will be reviewed and banned.

In a statement, Mojisola Adeyeye, director-general of NAFDAC, said some of the pesticides sold in Nigeria, particularly, chlorpyrifos contain toxic ingredients that are harmful to humans, animals, and the environment.

TheCable had earlier reported that a study by the Heinrich Bll Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, revealed there was a surge in the use of toxic pesticides by farmers in the country.

Commenting on the report by the Heinrich Bll Foundation, the NAFDAC DG said the agency was working to phase out all toxic pesticides imported into Nigeria.

The dangers posed by pesticides are of immense concern to the agency and there have been recent concerns from stakeholders such as the report of the study conducted by Heinrich Boll Foundation; a non-governmental organisation that claimed that 40 percent of pesticides used in Nigeria had been banned in the EU, the statement reads.

There was also an alert received from the federal ministry of agriculture and rural development (FMARD) cautioning on the possibility that the European Union and United Kingdom were exporting banned Neonicotinoid pesticides to Nigeria and other poorer countries.

Emphasis was placed on chlorpyrifos and its variants due to their harmful effects on humans, animals, beneficial insects, and the environment.

During her first term as the director-general, she gave a directive to review and analyze the list of registered pesticides and petrochemical active ingredients in the NAFDAC Registered Product Automated Database (NARPAD) vis--vis actives banned, non-approved, or restricted in the European Union, other countries or by relevant international organizations.

That led to several meetings with stakeholders and November 2022 meeting when timelines were set for the phase-out ban of the various pesticides.

Pesticides are applied both indoors and outdoors for the management of pests, vector-borne diseases, and for crop protection. They are sometimes impregnated in textiles, paints, carpets, and treated wood to control pests and fungi. However, the toxicity associated with the misuse and abuse of pesticides is worrisome as it affects food safety and food security.

The toxicity of pesticides is managed through stringent regulatory activities to reduce severe health implications on humans, crops, and the environment. This can be achieved through awareness and continual sensitization of stakeholders.

During the meeting on pesticide regulation, the agency said stakeholders resolved to ensure pesticides and agrochemical importers and manufacturers would be advised to institute stewardship plans, such as post-marketing surveillance and research in their companies.

NAFDAC to collaborate with research institutes in the conduct of research and scientific data generation on pesticides to enable the agency to make evidence-based decisions and policies, it added.

NAFDAC to intensify post-marketing surveillance nationwide.

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NAFDAC: All toxic pesticides banned in Europe but used in Nigeria ... - TheCable

European Commission

Vra Jourov says her upbringing in former Czechoslovakia has inspired her work to ensure journalism remains independent

Vra Jourov was 13 when she was first investigated for her political views. It was 1977 in communist Czechoslovakia and the state was cracking down on political dissidents who had signed a human rights declaration Charter 77. Her civics teacher wanted to know what she thought of the document. Jourovs parents were already blacklisted and she feared the wrong answer would make things worse. It was a horror moment, recalls Jourov, who knew about Charter 77 from the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe broadcasts that her family listened to in secret. So she said nothing and saw her school marks slide.

Nearly half a century later, Jourov is one of the European Commissions most powerful officials and seeking to protect the media in the European Union. There are increasing threats and a very dangerous trend, she told the Guardian.

On Wednesday, World Press Freedom day will be marked, during which global alarm about the state of media freedom is expected to be raised, and Jourov warned of the risks. Journalists are facing online and physical attacks, and are even killed for their work; public service media in some countries are pressured to become state or party mouthpieces; powerful businessmen are buying up outlets struggling to cope with the digital age, an oligarchisation that could endanger media pluralism, she said.

The European Commission vice-president was speaking in a week when the human rights watchdog Civil Liberties Union for Europe said abusive lawsuits against journalists were on the rise in a dozen EU countries. Meanwhile in four central European countries Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia the majority of people told the Median pollster they were concerned about media freedom, an increase on last year in each state.

The European Commission, long a powerful regulator of the free market, used to argue it had no powers to defend the free press. EU treaties left the commission with weak equipment, Jourov said in defence of her predecessors. But starting her job as vice-president for values and transparency in 2019, she realised passivity might be a fatal mistake.

If we understand the rule of law principle as a healthy and functioning division of powers, then of course the media belong to this game. A year ago she proposed measures to protect journalists and campaigners from vexatious lawsuits, so-called strategic lawsuits against public participation, or Slapps, used by wealthy individuals and companies attempting to quash investigative reporting. This was followed last autumn with the proposed European media freedom act, intended to prevent political interference in editorial decisions, ensure the independence of public service media and ban the use of spyware on journalists.

The proposal has to be agreed by EU governments and the European parliament. Not everyone is enthusiastic. The German government, under pressure from powerful media groups that dislike the plans, such as Axel Springer, the owner of Bild and Politico, argues that EU regulation could dilute national media protections. Jourov insists this is not the case, because the legislation proposes minimum standards. Even countries, with long traditions of free media, such as Denmark, should not be complacent, she suggested. My message is no country is immune, for instance, against the appetite of politicians to interfere into the job of journalists.

Meanwhile the European parliaments lead negotiator on the file, the German centre-right MEP Sabine Verheyen, is seeking to weaken aspects of the proposals. She wants to protect the rights of media owners to assume a leading editorial role. Jourov insists the EU regulation cannot be a cosmetic change The media sector needs a radical solution when it comes to its protection, she said.

In contrast the Committee to Protect Journalists has welcomed the various EU plans but warned that the EU shift to protect the media still needed to be translated into meaningful action.

The proposed media freedom act, Jourov acknowledged, cannot undo the damage in some member states, such as Hungary, where last year independent election monitors found that biased and unbalanced news coverage in favour of the ruling party had limited voters ability to make a choice. We cannot unscramble scrambled eggs, Jourov said, referring to Kesma, Hungarys rightwing pro-government media group spanning TV companies, internet portals, newspapers and sports publications that dominates the news agenda. But I believe that the media freedom act might have an influence on the behaviour of the states including Hungary, she said, suggesting the possibility of EU legal action would limit future moves to control journalism.

Inspired by her own upbringing, the Czech politician also wants to support Russias exiled independent journalists, now labelled foreign agents by the Kremlin. She says the creation of Radio Free Russia will help Russian independent journalists in the EU find an audience in their home country. Rather than just a radio station, she proposes a broader set of initiatives to fund and help journalists working for the likes of the Dozhd TV station, Novaya Gazeta and the Meduza internet portal. The EU has set aside 3m (2.65m) in seed funding to create a media freedom hub that will give grants and raise money for Russian media groups that have lost their business model. The hub, the centrepiece of Radio Free Russia, is intended to launch on 1 July and will also help exiled Russian journalists get humanitarian visas and bank accounts.

I believe that there might be a lot of people in Russia, who want to hear something else, said Jourov, seated in front of a large portrait of Anna Politikovskaya, the campaigning Russian reporter murdered in 2006. It would be a mistake not to support independent Russian journalists on EU territory, she said.

She remembered the horrible brainwash of her youth, countered by secret listening to the free media. Without Voice of America, I only would have known that Vclav Havel [dissident and later statesman] and others were enemies of the people, she said recalling the stations jaunty Yankee Doodle jingle. The official doctrine was very intense.

Radio Free Russia would also help Russian journalists distribute their work in their home country, whether via VPN, satellite or the internet. We cannot remove the fear I know what it is to live in such a kind of fear but we can remove the lack of information, with the Radio Free Russia initiative.

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Threats are increasing: the EU official on a mission to protect media freedom - The Guardian

Europe has long been the trendsetter in policy and regulation around environmental, social and governance issues. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is the latest in a line of European Union policies intended to nudge economic and investment activity towards more sustainable outcomes.

The CSRD replaced the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD), which only covered the disclosure requirements for about 11,000 EU companies. In contrast, the CSRD will require nearly 50,000 companies to enhance their reporting around sustainability. This number includes about 10,000 companies outside the EU, and it doesnt just include the largest of the large companies.

The CSRD was adopted by the EU Council in November. EU companies already subject to the NFRD will have to begin compliance with the CSRD, which means reporting in 2024. Those for whom this reporting will be new, including companies outside the EU, have until 2025 to begin complying.

The NFRD was never mandatory. As a result, investors, regulators and civil society groups were often frustrated with the lack of sustainability-related information from companies and the lack of comparability of that data. The European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) recently released animplementation appraisal on the NFRD that highlighted many shortcomings of the NFRD:

The purpose of the CSRD is to provide investors and businesses with more information about the sustainability of companies operating in the EU, that is timely, consistent and comparable.

In essence, the CSRD is becoming the de facto sustainability disclosure regulation for large global companies; as companies with significant business in Europe will have to adhere to the rules Europe sets down.

The rules will cover both public and private business that satisfy two of the following criteria:

Compliance with CSRD isnt that far away. Companies that meet the reporting requirements will have to submit their first report of aligning with CSRD by Jan. 1, 2025. Smaller and medium-sized entities (SMEs) wont have to comply with the rules until January 2026.

Companies outside of Europe that do business in the EU will also be covered by the new rules companies that generate total revenue of $167 million in the EU and have at least one branch or subsidiary in the EU with more than $44.51 million in net revenue will be required to comply with the new disclosure requirements.

In essence, the CSRD is becoming the de facto sustainability disclosure regulation for large global companies; as companies with significant business in Europe will have to adhere to the rules Europe sets down. The hope of European regulators and sustainability-minded professionals around the world is that this higher disclosure bar will export European best practices in disclosure globally. As large companies in global markets are forced to raise their standards, these disclosure standards will cause other companies in those markets to follow the more stringent disclosure standards set by the EU in order to keep up with best practices.

In addition to information already required by the NFRD, companies that comply with the CSRD will have to publish information related to:

Companies will be required to set annual ESG targets and report their process hitting these targets, including transition plans (if any).

The CSRD will require third-party assurances, including integration into the auditors report, a requirement not covered by the NFRD. This information will be required to be presented in a companys annual financial reports, not in a separate sustainability report. Assurances can at first be "limited" but must reach the threshold of "reasonable" assurances by 2028. For those of you out there who are not accountants (good for you), reasonable assurances amount to an auditor affirming that the information reported is materially correct, while limited assurances simply state that the auditor is not aware of any material modifications that need to be made.

The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) is drafting the upcoming EU Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) that the CSRD will adopt as its reporting standard. The European Commission is due to adopt the initial ESRS standards in mid-2023.

If all of this sounds like a lot of work, you are right. If all of this sounds like a lot of work and a little bit intimidating if you are not a European company used to European regulation, accounting and disclosure standards, you are right again. Companies outside the EU that will be subject to CSRD reporting have realized the daunting task ahead of them. Those ahead of the curve have already started the process of adjustment to the CSRD landscape.

Chris Librie, senior director of ESG at Applied Materials, acknowledged that CSRD will require companies outside the EU to change their perspective on sustainability. "CSRD is pretty comprehensive," Librie said. "It involves double materiality, which may bring into scope things that we may not have considered. For example, we havent traditionally looked at biodiversity, but that may come up."

Most companies will need to expand their ability to measure and manage sustainability issues in their own operations; as well down their supply chains to comply with CSRD disclosure rules.

"Our ESG team is fairly small," Librie said, "so we will be reaching to other divisions such as human resources, environmental health and safety and others, as well as our outside auditors and consultants. The number of potential topics are so many that we are taking a team approach to develop a structured approach to the CSRD process."

The race is on to train financial professionals for the transition. Several organizations are working with companies to help them prepare for the transition. One of these is Accounting for Sustainability (A4S). A4S was established by King Charles III in 2004, with the aim of working with chief financial officers and other financial leaders to drive a shift towards more sustainable business models. A4S routinely hosts workshops to share best practices and build knowledge of financial professionals to bring them up to speed.

The number of potential topics are so many that we are taking a team approach to develop a structured approach to the CSRD process.

Brad Sparks, executive director of A4S Foundation U.S., emphasized how A4S is seeing significant interest from finance and accounting professionals that A4S works with around CSRD.

"CSRD has become part of the reporting workshops that we host," Sparks said. "We also started a new controllers forum and had a meeting earlier this year where we brought in someone from EFRAG to discuss the emerging ESRS standards. The forum is designed for chief accounting officers, controllers and ESG controllers to exchange insights, challenges and responses to sustainability issues among peers. Our initial meeting had a focus on double materiality a topic that is new to many in the finance and accounting community."

Part of the learning curve for those outside the EU will be navigating the differences in accounting standards, investor expectations and legal systems that underpin EU regulation and norms outside the EU. "Finance and accounting professionals in the United States are seeking additional guidance to help with the emerging standards," Sparks said. "In general, global accounting standards are typically principles-based, while U.S. accounting (GAAP) is typically rules-based. This is similar with the ESRS following a more principles-based approach, which some in the U.S. view as more challenging to implement."

Although adjusting to a CSRD world will take time and resources, in the end, the goal is to provide investors, policymakers, civil society and companies themselves with better information. It may move sustainability reporting more to the mainstream, which has both positive and negative implications.

Preparing for CSRD reporting will be a step change in managing and measuring sustainability data for many companies outside the EU. Companies that need to report under the CSRD standard will need to start now if they havent already: January 2025 isnt that far away. There are steps companies can take to get ready. Here are just a few places to start:

"I see this possibly driving companies toward more integrated reporting," Librie said. "I think ultimately we will see more 10-Ks and sustainability reports that merge, so we will have a one-stop shop for all this information. That is a positive but a potential negative is that in a 10-K type document, you cant be as verbose. You have to be more economical about telling your story, and that might make ESG engagement more challenging."

"Companies are seeking to understand how they can comply with reporting requirements in an effective, efficient and impactful manner," Sparks said. "They want to understand what best practices are and are looking for more guidance." Sparks noted that A4S plans to hold more workshops around CSRD in the future, as it sees increasing demand from the CFOs and financial professionals they meet with.

[Continue the dialogue on emerging sustainable investment trends at GreenFin 23 the premier sustainable finance event taking place June 26-28 in Boston.]

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How the new EU directive will rewrite ESG reporting - GreenBiz

With an eye to securing European Union support against Iran and calming tensions over the Palestinian conflict, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen is slated to visit Brussels on Tuesday to meet with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

Israel and the European Union have many common interests in the Middle East, chief among them is stopping the Iranian nuclear program and the threat of terrorism, Cohen said on Sunday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Cohen have heavily lobbied Europe over the Iran issue. Tehrans alliance with Moscow has opened a window for Israel to try and align Brusselss policies with that of Jerusalem when it comes to the strategy for preventing the Islamic Republic from developing nuclear weapons.

Israel in particular wants the International Atomic Energy Agencys board to vote in June to ask the UN Security Council to reinstate crippling sanctions against Iran.

Cohen will ask the EU to take a hard line against Iranian uranium enrichment and to add Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards to its list of terrorist organizations.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that Irans pursuit of nuclear weapons and its being the global sponsor of terrorism is top on the agenda.

At the governments weekly meeting, Netanyahu said, We will not allow Iran to tighten a ring of terrorism around us to strangle us.

We are taking action on this matter around the clock, at all times, even now, and we will continue to take both offensive and defensive action against Iranian aggression and that of its terrorist proxies.

In Brussels, Cohen also plans to tackle tensions between Israel and the EU over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly in his meeting with Borrell, who has taken a particularly harsh stance and made comments that have riled Netanyahus government.

In March, the Foreign Ministry barred Borrell from making a diplomatic visit to Israel to protest statements he made that appeared to equate Israeli terror victims with Palestinians killed by the IDF.

Israel and Brussels have also been at odds over the EUs support for the construction of illegal Palestinian structures in Area C, particularly for Palestinian and Bedouin herding communities.

The EU sees this move as a humanitarian gesture on an issue of basic rights, the provision of housing. It has noted in particular the dearth of housing permits for Palestinians in Area C of the West Bank, which is under IDF civilian and military control.

Israel has also been concerned by EU support for Palestinian civic groups that it has deemed to be associated with terror activity.

It is important for me to make it clear to our friends in Europe that Israel is not opposed to humanitarian aid coming from European countries and the union to the Palestinian Authority, Cohen said.

Despite this, he added, Israel will not allow European aid to indirectly reach terrorist organizations and incitement against Israel and Israelis.

Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen angered the PA when she spoke of how Israel made the desert bloom when she issued a congratulatory statement on the countrys 75th birthday. The PA said her words were racist and it demanded an apology.

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Cohen to meet Borrell in Brussels on Iran, Israel-EU tensions - The Jerusalem Post