§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of evidence presented to the European Commission concerning products processed in Israeli settlements in occupied territories which have been imported into the Community under the EC Trade Agreement with Israel in violation of that Agreement's Origin Rules Protocol; and if he will make representations to the Commission about acting on the evidence presented. [109539]
§ Mr. VazCustoms and Excise is participating in a European Commission initiative to establish the true origin of goods which have been exported to the United Kingdom and other member states under the provisions of the Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community and the State of Israel. So far investigations have failed to substantiate the alleged non-compliance with the provisions of the Agreement. We will continue to assist the Commission in its investigations and to support the continuing dialogue between the Commission, the Israeli Government, and the Palestinian Authority on this issue.