Jerusalem, 7 June 1995
CABINET DECISION REGARDING FREE TRADE TREATY WITH EUROPEAN UNION
(COMMUNICATED BY CABINET SECRETARY)
In accordance with the Government's decision #5453 from 21.5.95:
The Government decided:
A. To initial the draft treaty between Israel and the European Union on
the basis of the EU representatives' proposal and add the following:
1. The Government welcomes the declaration made by the EU's leaders at
their December 1994 meeting in Essen, Germany, during which they called
for Israel to be given special status in its relations with the EU.
2. These negotiations will not detract from the conditions of existing
agreements between Israel and the EU.
3. The Research and Development Agreement, including full
participation, without the right to vote in the committees administering
the various projects, is an essential condition of the full agreement.
4. Israel will conduct negotiations on the matter of government
procurement on the understanding that the EU take into account the limits,
and relative advantages of Israel in this sphere, and particularly in the
telecommunications sector, and according to Israel's negotiating position
on this during GATT.
5. Israel proposes that with the aim of preventing damage as a result
of raising duties within the framework of the Uruguay Round, and following
the accession of the three EFTA countries to the EU, that agreements in
the area of agriculture and processed foods operate between them,
immediately following the signing of the agreement, without waiting for
ratification.
6. Israel is prepared to delay implementation of the agreement
concerning the price of entry for oranges until 1.11.95.
7. Israel insists upon receiving a letter from the EU affirming that
the subject of O.P.T. will remain on the negotiating table between the two
sides. The Government aspires to find a solution to the problem by the end
of the new agreement's ratification process.
8. The Government authorizes its representatives to the negotiations to
continue discussing the EU's requests regarding the import to Israel of
agricultural goods and processed foods.
9. The Government calls on the EU to take immediate steps to reduce the
huge trade deficit between the two sides.
B. Authorizes the Foreign Minister to notify the EU and its Presidency of
these decisions. The Government calls on the EU's Foreign Ministers Forum,
in its 12-13.6.95 meeting, to approve the draft agreement in accordance
with the EU's proposal, and along the lines described above."