Israel (Hansard, 18 February 1997)

§ Mr. Gerrard
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanisms of scrutiny the Government propose to put forward to(a) the European Commission and (b) other EU bodies in relation to article 2 of the EU-Israel association agreement; and if he will take steps to ensure these mechanisms are sufficiently transparent to allow assessment of the operation and effect of the human rights clause in the association agreement. [16191]

§ Mr. Hanley
Heads of diplomatic missions of EU member states in Israel and the occupied territories, as in other countries, continually monitor the human rights situation and send regular reports to the EU Presidency, which are seen by all Member State governments. This includes reporting in connection with the association agreements. The EU-Israel association agreement will establish a political dialogue which will allow the EU to raise human rights issues more effectively with the Israeli Government. The association council set up under the agreement will examine any major issues arising under the agreement.

§ Mr. Gunnell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Israel's compliance with articles 1 and 38 of the EU-Israel interim agreement on trade and trade-related matters. [16325]

§ Mr. Hanley
Article 1 of the agreement concerns respect for human rights and democratic principles. We and the EU regularly raise these important matters with the Israeli Government. Article 38 is about the territories to which the agreement applies: as it applies to the territory of the state of Israel, it would not include the 475W occupied territories. The question of whether Israel would be in breach of the agreement by certifying goods produced in the occupied territories as produced in Israel is a matter for the Commission.

§ Mr. Gunnell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances he has received from Israel in respect of its compliance with articles 1 and 38 of the EU-Israel association agreement once Parliament has ratified that agreement. [16326]

§ Mr. Hanley
I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer. Articles 1 and 38 in the interim agreement are equivalent to articles 2 and 83 in the association agreement. We have received no assurances bilaterally from Israel on this agreement, which is between Israel and the EU.