EU-Israel Association Agreement (Hansard, 19 December 2003)

§ Richard Burden
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent meetings he has had with EU counterparts to discuss Article II of the EU-Israel Association Agreement relating to adherence to human rights. [145389]

§ Mr. MacShane
The EU last discussed Israel's adherence to human rights and the EU/Israel Association Agreement at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 17 November 2003, immediately prior to the EU/Israel Association Council.
The EU has serious concerns about the lack of respect shown for the human rights of both Israeli and Palestinian people in this conflict. Along with our EU partners, we have followed a policy of constructive engagement with Israel on humanitarian and human rights issues. At the EU/Israel Association Council the EU called on Israel to abstain from any punitive measures that are not in accordance with international law, including extra-judicial killings and destruction of houses.

§ Richard Burden
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the status is of the city of Jerusalem in the EU-Israel Association Agreement. [145390]
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§ Mr. MacShane
The EU/Israel Association Agreement defines the scope of its coverage as the EU and the State of Israel. It does not define further what is meant by the "State of Israel".
The Government and the International Community consider that the status of Jerusalem is one of the issues to be resolved by negotiations between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority in a permanent status agreement that ends the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Pending agreement, the Government recognises de facto Israeli authority over West Jerusalem, but consider East Jerusalem to be occupied territory. We recognise no sovereignty over the city.

§ Richard Burden
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what controls exist on the import of products from illegal Israeli settlements to prevent their entry to the UK under preferential treatment within the EU-Israel Association Agreement. [145391]

§ Mr. MacShane
The European Commission published, in November 2001, a notice to importers in theOfficial Journal of the European Communities alerting EC importers to the ineligibility of products originating in the Occupied Territories for the preferences provided by the EU/Israel Association Agreement.
HM Customs and Excise are verifying the origin of certain products. Where products are found to have originated in the Occupied Territories HM Customs and Excise collect duty from the UK importers. Other EU member states" customs authorities, working with the European Commission, are taking similar action to enforce EC law.