§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the agenda for the meeting of the EU-Israel Association Committee in May to review the operation of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. [824]
§ Peter HainA copy of the agenda, agreed by the EU and Israel, was deposited in the House of Commons Library on 2 July 2001.
§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Israeli authorities have responded to the EU post-verification requests for certificates of origin for goods alleged to be from illegal settlements. [825]
§ Peter HainThe Israeli Customs Authorities have responded to a number of the post-verification requests for certificates of origin for goods exported by Israel under the preferences conferred by the EU-Israel Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement. Under the terms of the Agreement, Israel has 10 months to reply to each request. All the responses should be received within the coming weeks. The EU will consider next steps in the light of the responses received.
§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the EU will stop the import of suspected settlement products under preference in the absence of the necessary proofs of origin within the internationally recognised borders of Israel, as provided for in the post-verification exercise. [826]
§ Peter HainThe UK supports the Commission's efforts to establish whether any infringements of the EU-Israel Association Agreement have taken place. EU member states continue to receive responses from the Israeli254W authorities to their post-verification requests, and all of these responses need to be analysed. The EC will consider next steps and will then discuss the issue with Israel at the EU-Israel Customs Co-operation Committee on 23 July 2001.
§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what safeguards the EU secured from the Israeli authorities that co-operation on(a) scientific and technological, (b) economic, (c) trade and (d) audio-visual and cultural matters, as discussed at the meeting of the EU-Israel Association Committee on 21 May, would give equal access to Arab, Druse and Jewish citizens of Israel and would not include any institutions operating in illegal settlements outside the international borders of Israel. [828]
§ Peter HainThe EU-Israel Association Agreement provides for co-operation between the EU and Israel in a number of areas, and also allows Israel to participate in a number of EU programmes. The EU operates a non-discrimination policy in deciding which institutions can access these co-operation programmes.
The EU has repeatedly condemned settlement activity in the occupied territories (including east Jerusalem). It is illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace. Therefore, institutions from the Israeli settlements will not be eligible to participate in any EU co-operation or programme.
§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the EU proposes to monitor that co-operation between the EU and Israel under the EU-Israel Trade Association Agreement conforms with equal opportunities in benefiting Jewish, Druse and Arab citizens of Israel. [829]
§ Peter HainWe take human rights issues, including equal opportunity for all, extremely seriously. Respect for human rights and democratic principles is regularly raised during dialogue at all levels, most recently at the EU-Israel Association Committee on 21 May 2001. EU Heads of Mission in Tel Aviv also regularly raise human rights concerns with the Israeli Government.
§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the decisions taken by the meeting of the EU-Israel Association Committee on 21 May. [827]
§ Peter HainA report of the outcome of the meeting can be made public only with the agreement of the EU member states and of Israel.