Agreements

The legal framework for EU- Israel relations is provided by the The EU-Israel "Association Agreement" [548 KB] signed in Brussels, on 20 November 1995, and following ratification by the 15 Member States parliaments, the European Parliament and the Knesset, entered force on 1 June, 2000. It replaces the earlier Cooperation Agreement of 1975.

The main features of the EU-Israel Association Agreement include provisions on regular political dialogue, on freedom of establishment and liberalisation of services, the free movement of capital and competition rules, the strengthening of economic cooperation and cooperation on social matters. The agreement establishes an Association Council to be supported by an Association Committee. It also reinforces the arrangements for free trade in industrial products which had been in force since the late 1970s. The agreement also mentions many other areas of cooperation that are open to negotiation.

Among other things, the agreement states that the respect for human rights and democratic principles guides the internal and international policy of both Israel and the EU and constitutes an essential and positive element of the Agreement. At Israel's request, there is a Joint Declaration on the importance both parties attach to the struggle against xenophobia, anti-Semitism and racism.

Other agreements:

One highlight of 2009 was the conclusion of an EU-Israel agreement on agriculture . On 4 November 2009 the EC and Israel signed the new agreement concerning reciprocal liberalisation measures on agricultural products , processed agricultural products and fish and fishery products. It entered into force on 1 January 2010.

Agreement on scientific and technical cooperation

On 8 June 2014, Israel and the European Union signed the agreement associating Israel to the Horizon 2020 – Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020). The agreement provides Israeli researchers, universities and companies with full access to the Horizon 2020 Programme. 

Agreement on Good Laboratory Practice

The agreement was signed on 26.7.99 and came into force on 1.5.2000. The full text of the agreement can be found in The Official Journal of the European Communities L263 of 9 October 1999.

Agreements on Procurement by Telecommunications Operators and on Government Procurement

The two Agreements came into force on 1 August 1997. The full text of the agreements can be found in the Official Journal of the European Communities L202 of 30 July 1997

Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of industrial products (ACAA)

The EU and Israel signed on 6 May 2010 an Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of industrial products (ACAA) which entered into force on 19.1.2013. The Agreement contains an annex on good manufacturing practices for pharmaceutical products which will allow for EU-certified pharmaceuticals to be placed on Israel's market and vice-versa, without additional certification.

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