The European Union has given the PA in Judea, Samaria and Gaza a 10-year duty-free import trade status.
Palestinian Authority business owners in Judea, Samaria and Gaza will be able to sell fresh produce, oils and fish products in the European Union at an attractive price.
The deal, signed Wednesday, will allow PA farmers to export their goods in Europe duty-free for up to 10 years, with a review and possible extension after the first five years, according to a report posted on the EuroMed website.
According to data released by the European Union, the agreement won't amount to much at this point. Last year's exports to the EU were primarily soy and sunflower seeds, oils and early potato shipments. The entire lot came to a total of 6.1 million euros, around $8 million. In exchange, the EU exported some 50.5 million euros' worth of goods to the PA.
Under the current Interim Association Agreement, PA farmers are already able to market their industrial goods and industrial products, duty-free, in the EU markets. The new agreement was specifically mapped out to include agricultural and fishery products under the framework of the Barcelona Process, with negotiations conducted in accordance with the Euro-Mediterranean Roadmap for Agriculture (Rabat roadmap).
Concern Over Jewish Goods
Reuters reports that the EU issued a statement saying it expects exports from the PA to further expand as the economy develops. What the EU's executive commission does not want, however, and what it bluntly said it was deeply concerned about, is the potential export of Jewish goods from the same areas.
“We are aware that the true origin is a potential problem, so we shall be watching that closely,” said Roger Waite, spokesman for the Commission.
The European Union has made no bones about the fact that it opposes Israel's presence in Judea and Samaria, and is deeply committed to ending Jewish construction in those regions.
According to the ENPI (European Neighbourhood Partnership Instrument) Information Center, PA Arabs are “extremely positive about their relations with the European Union, and have a strong appreciation of EU projects. There is also a marked desire for even more support.”
Data gleaned from a survey conducted by the Opinion Polling and Research Project (OPPOL) to “generate better information about awareness, understanding and perception of the EU and the role it plays in the occupied Palestinian territory.”
EU De Facto Recognition of 'Palestine'?
Within the body of document, the text of the survey report refers repeatedly to “Palestine” when discussing the findings of the study conducted in the Palestinian Authority areas.
In one section, the text actually refers outright to the entity as a country, thus already conferring upon it a political status that does not appear even to be close to being achieved by diplomatic negotiations.
A tiny caveat on the right margin apologetically claims, “This publication does not represent the official view of the EC (European Commission) or the EU Institutions. The EC accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to its content.” Nevertheless, the entire document and the three-year survey effort that produced the report was funded by the European Union.
Among respondents, 92 percent said that relations between the PA and the EU are good or fairly good, 86 percent said “the territory has benefited from EU policies in the country,” and 76 percent agreed that relations are good.
The report also noted a significant disparity between the PA leadership and the grassroots population in the two groups' perceptions of the EU's involvement.
While only 49 percent of the PA general public felt the EU involvement in the PA is appropriate, 89 percent of its leadership supported the EU in that role. Similarly, the report said 54 percent of the general public said it believed the EU could help “bring peace and stability to the country,” but 83 percent of “opinion leaders” held that belief as well.
The ENPI is the main financial mechanism through which assistance is granted to the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Partner Countries, as well as Russia. ENPI South grants funds to the Palestinian Authority as well as to Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria and Tunisia.