§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to monitor the operation of trade agreements between the European Union and both the Palestine Authority and the PLO; what assessment he has made of the levels of co-operation given by Israel to the implementation of these agreements; and what impact such co-operation has had on Palestine's ability to trade with the EU. [97873]
§ Mr. HainThe monitoring of the EC/PLO interim agreement is primarily the responsibility of the European Commission. We are concerned that the agreement should be fully recognised by the Israeli government and that the Palestinians should be able to export and import from the EU within hindrance. We participate in the EU/Israel dialogue on the Palestinian economy, which discusses how the Palestinian capacity to export and import freely can be improved. Israeli co-operation in the implementation of the EC/PLO interim agreement is a very important factor affecting the Palestinians; ability to trade with the EU.