§ Richard BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has been made of Israel's responses to post-verification requests by the EU in respect of imports suspected to originate outside the internationally recognized borders of Israel. [15892]
§ Peter Hain[holding answer 19 November 2001]: The EU has concluded, from the responses to member state's post-verification requests and from continuing discussions with Israel, that there remains a requirement to address the issues underlying the rules of origin dispute. The EU returned to this issues at the 20 November association council, noting that it wanted to continue efforts to resolve the question with Israel.
§ Richard BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Israeli authorities have responded fully to EU post-verification requests for certificates of origins for goods alleged to be from illegal settlements; and if he will detail those responses. [15891]
§ Peter Hain[holding answer 19 November 2001]: Such requests are made by members states' Customs authorities in respect of individual cases of imports from a third country. Since April 2001 the UK has received 13 responses from Israel to requests for verification that the goods in question qualified for preferential treatment under the terms of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. In all but one of the cases Israel responded that the goods were originating products under the terms of the Agreement and thus qualified in Israel's view for preferential treatment. In the other case, the Israeli authorities were unable to validate the exporter's claim that the goods in question qualified for preferential treatment. The EU has made it clear, most recently at the 20 November association council, that it wants to pursue discussions with Israel to resolve this issue.
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§ Richard BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanisms are available to the EU to review the operation of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. [15889]
§ Peter Hain[holding answer 19 November 2001]: The EU-Israel Association Agreement provides for regular review by the Ministerial-level Association Council, to which either party may refer disputes over its application or interpretation. Below the level of the Council the Association Committee operates at official level and has power, under the terms of the Agreement, to take decisions relating to its management.
§ Richard BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what deadlines the EU has placed for full responses by the Israeli authorities to EU post-verification requests for certificates of origin for goods alleged to be from illegal settlements; what the deadlines are; and what actions are available to the EU in the event of full responses not being received. [18655]
§ Peter HainRequests for verification of goods are made by member states' Customs authorities in respect of individual cases of imports from a third country. According to the terms of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, the country requesting the verification should be informed of the results within a maximum period of 10 months. In the event of full responses not being received., further information may be requested, and if this does not satisfactorily resolve the issues, it may be referred to the Association Council under the terms of the Agreement.
§ Richard BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps were considered by EU foreign Ministers at the 19 November General Affairs Council to stop the import into the EU under preference of goods labelled as made in Israel but which originate in Israeli settlements in the occupied territories; what decisions were taken; and what the reasons for these decisions were. [18654]
§ Peter HainThe 19 November General Affairs Council agreed that the EU should make it clear to Israel at the 20 November EU-Israel Association Council that it attached great importance to correct application of the Association Agreement and that it would do its best to find a sustainable solution to the rules of origin issue. It noted that, if the Association Council process was not able to find a solution, the EU would have to review its position, in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement. The two sides have agreed to pursue discussions on this issue.
§ Richard BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the results of the EU-Israeli Association Council held on 20 November in respect of the implementation of the EU Association Agreement. [18523]
§ Peter HainThe EU side noted that work in many areas of the Association Agreement is proceeding satisfactorily. It underlined its commitment to resolve the rules of origin issue, noting that efforts so far had not succeeded. The EU further noted that, if the Council was unable to find a solution, the EU would have to review its position, in accordance with the provisions of the Association Agreement. Discussions with Israel will continue on this issue.
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§ Richard BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he had made an assessment by the time of the EU-Israel Association Council of 20 November of Israel's responses to post verification requests by the EU in respect of imports suspected to originate outside the internationally recognised borders of Israel; and if he will give details of that assessment. [18657]
§ Peter HainThe UK concluded that there remains a requirement to address the issues underlying the rules of origin question. This took into account the responses to the post-verification requests and continuing EU expert-level discussions with Israel. The EU has agreed to continue efforts to resolve the issue, as discussed with Israel at the 20 November Association Council.
§ Richard BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Israeli authorities responded fully to EU post-verification requests for certificates of origin for goods alleged to be from Israeli settlements by the time of the EU-Israel Association Council on 20 November; if he will give details of the responses received; and on what date they were received. [18656]
§ Peter HainSuch requests are made by member states' Customs authorities in respect of individual cases of imports from a third country. Since April 2001 the UK has received thirteen responses from Israel to requests for verification that the goods in question qualified for preferential treatment under the terms of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. In all but one of the cases Israel provided a standard response that the goods were originating products under the terms of the Agreement and thus qualified in Israel's view for preferential treatment. In the other case the Israeli authorities were unable to validate the exporter's claim that the goods in question qualified for preferential treatment. Of the twelve responses which verified the origin of the goods, one was received on 4 April; three on 22 April; one on 24 April; three on 24 May; one on 5 June; one on 12 June; one on 15 August and one on 14 September. The other response was received on 5 June.