Considerations on COM(2021)651 - EU position in the Joint Committee established by Article 63(1) of the Association Agreement with the Palestinian Authority

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dossier COM(2021)651 - EU position in the Joint Committee established by Article 63(1) of the Association Agreement with the Palestinian Authority.
document COM(2021)651 EN
date October 27, 2021
 
(1) The Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part (‘the Interim Association Agreement’) was concluded by the Union by Council Decision of 2 June 1997 1 and entered into force on 1 July 1997.

(2) Article 63 of the Interim Association Agreement established a Joint Committee with the power to take binding decisions in the cases provided for in the Interim Association Agreement.

(3) The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union, of the one part, and the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part, providing further liberalisation of agricultural products, processed agricultural products and fish and fishery products and amending the Interim Association Agreement (the ‘Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters’) was concluded by the Union by Council Decision of 20 October 2011 2 and entered into force on 1 January 2012. The temporary amendments to the Interim Association Agreement will come to an end on 31 December 2021.

(4) Pursuant to Point C, paragraph 1(a) of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters, the Joint Committee established by the Interim Association Agreement may adopt an extension of the temporary amendments of the Interim Association Agreement by the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters.

(5) The need to promote economic and social development in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continues to exist. This is particularly the case following recent violence in and around Gaza. Promoting economic and social development in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip could contribute to enhancing political stability in the region. The Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters was originally concluded for a period of ten years. In view of the persisting economic hardship in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and in order to maximize stability and planning reliability, an extension of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of letters by another 10 years would be most effective. It is therefore appropriate to extend the temporary amendments for an additional 10 years.

(6) The Joint Committee is to adopt a decision on the extension of the temporary amendments of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters by ten years.

(7) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the Joint Committee, as the decision will be binding on the Union.