EMCDDA and IADA sign MOU on information sharing - February
2014
Israel and
the EU will share information on drugs more systematically in the future,
thanks to a Memorandum of Understanding that was signed today in Jerusalem
between the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) and the Israel Anti-Drug Authority
(IADA). The agreement was signed at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign
Affairs by EMCDDA Director Wolfgang Götz and IADA Director-General Yair Geller.
Israel had submitted a formal request for cooperation
with the EMCDDA in 2012. After being given green light by the EMCDDA Management
Board in December of 2012, the agency started negotiations on the MoU with
IADA.
This accord, signed for an initial period of five years
and sealing cooperation between the two bodies, is implemented through a joint
work program to be updated every three years. The work program includes steps
to enhance monitoring and knowledge base on the drugs situation and responses
to it, particularly through harmonizing key indicators in the areas of supply
and demand.
Special attention will be given to the regular exchange
of information on the use of new psychotropic substances, as well as the
technologies employed in their production.
The agreement provides for an exchange of technical
expertise and knowledge between the two bodies, the co-sponsoring of technical
meetings and the pooling of human and financial resources to launch joint
programs.
This cooperation takes place within the EMCDDA’s mandate for cooperation with
third countries in consultation with its Management Board and the European
Commission. The MoU is based on the 1995
Euro–Mediterranean Agreement and the 2005
EU–Israel Action Plan, the latter establishing the general framework
of EU-Israel bilateral relations.
Israel and the EU initial Horizon 2020 Agreement - December
18, 2013
In the framework of Israel-EU
R&D relations, Marcel Shaton, General Manager of ISERD and Laurent
Bochereau, Head of Unit for International Cooperation DG RTD, initialed the
agreement on Israel's participation in the EU's Research Framework Program
Horizon 2020.
Israel and the European Union issued a
joint statement on November 26, 2013 stating, "The agreement will allow
Israel's scientific community to benefit from one of the most important EU
programmes and facilitate its further integration into the European space of
research and innovation".
Horizon 2020 (2014-2020) is the
European Union's biggest Research and Innovation program with €80 billion in
funding to which Israel will contribute one billion euros. During FP7 there
were more than 9,000 Israeli Scientific interactions and Israel expects to
increase this figure alongside an increase in SME activity. Israel has been
participating in the European Union's Scientific Framework Program since 1996
(FP4) and is looking forward to contributing to Horizon 2020.
Israel signs Pan-Euromed Convention on Rules of Origin - October
10, 2013
On
Thursday, October 10, 2013, Israel's Ambassador to the European Union, HE Mr.
David Walzer signed the Pan-Euromed Convention on Rules of Origin.
This convention will eventually
lead to the simplification of trade procedures and will allow for those
involved to react quicker to changes in the global economy.
According to the Council
conclusions of March 26, 2012, the main objective of establishing said
convention is to, "facilitate the application of identical rules of origin
for the purpose of diagonal cumulation of origin of goods" traded in the
area.
The convention is intended to "overcome the
difficulties of management" due to the number of existing bilateral
agreements. The conclusion of the convention will allow for the creation of a
single legal instrument to replace the network of over 60 bilateral protocols
on rules of origin in the pan-Euro-Med zone.
Open Skies: Israel signs Euro-Mediterranean
Aviation Agreement – June 2013
In June 2013, Israel and the
EU signed the Open Skies Aviation Agreement that allows Israeli carriers to operate flights to
airports throughout the EU and EU airlines to do the same in Israel. The
agreement will be fully implemented by 2018.
The gradual opening
of the market is expected to encourage a larger number of direct flights between
Israel and destinations in Europe at lower prices. An increase in tourism in
both directions is expected to create additional jobs and economic benefits.
The gradual implementation of the agreement will give sufficient time for
carriers on both sides to prepare for increased competition.
The agreement
covers aviation rules in areas such as aviation safety, environment, consumer
protection, including passenger rights, air traffic management, economic
regulation, competition issues and social aspects.
A
"horizontal" air transport agreement was already signed with Israel
on 9 December 2008. This agreement brought all existing bilateral air service
agreements between EU Member States and Israel in line with EU law.
Israel signs agreement with European Space Agency - January
30, 2011
(Communicated
by the Ministry of Science and Technology)
The
Government of the State of Israel signed today (Sunday), 30 January 2011, an
agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) regarding space cooperation for peaceful purposes.
Israel Space Agency Director-General Dr. Zvi Kaplan signed the agreement on
behalf of the Israeli Government. European Space Agency Director-General Jean
Jacque Dordain signed the agreement on behalf of the European Space Agency. The
signing ceremony was held with Science and Technology Minister Prof. Daniel
Herskowitz in attendance, and as part of the Sixth International Ilan Ramon
Conference.
This is the
first agreement of its kind between Israel and the ESA, which within its
framework, achieves and promotes projects of mutual interest in the fields of
research and the peaceful use of outer space. The agreement facilitates the
exchange of scientists, engineers and information, the holding of joint
conferences and symposiums, and the promotion of communications and exchanges
between research institutions and industries in related areas.
Science and
Technology Minister Prof. Hershkowitz noted that, "The agreement
constitutes an international recognition of Israel's status as a space
power." ISA Dir.-Gen. Dr. Kaplan said, "This is an additional step in
joint research and development as a whole, and space research in particular,
which is strengthening and intensifying with European countries. It shall
permit the expansion of scientific and economic cooperation with this continent
of significant countries."
Among the
agreed-upon areas for cooperation, the following disciplines are specifically
noted:
1.
Space
Science: Especially astronomy, astrophysics, space engineering, and solar
system exploration.
2.
Space
Technologies: Especially space engineering, inclusive of micro and
nano-satellites.
3.
Earth
Observation Applications: Especially monitoring of environmental contamination,
meteorology and geodesy, and natural disaster management.
4.
Telecommunications
and development of services based on satellite navigation.
5.
Microgravity
research: Especially material engineering, space biology, medicine usage.
6.
Ground
segment engineering and utilization
By signing
this agreement, Israel has joined the list of countries, with which the ESA is
cooperating. This agreement is an addition to agreements that Israel has signed
in the past few years with the French and Italian space agencies, and which
constitute an additional important step in the strategic partnership between
Israel and Europe.
Israel signs Agreement on Conformity Assessment and
Acceptance of Industrial Product (ACAA) – May 2010
In May 2010, the agreement ACAA was signed in Brussels and came
into force in January 2013. ACAA is a framework agreement allowing mutual
recognition of standardization of industrial products between the appropriate
authorities in the EU and Israel. The agreement is the result of the work of
several years in front of the Commission. It is a framework agreement to which sector
specific annexes will be attached.
ACAA has the objective of promoting trade in goods between Israel
and the European Union by facilitating market access. It is a bilateral
agreement, and aims to benefit industry by providing easier access to
conformity assessment by removing obstacles to trade and significantly lowering
the cost of exports. The products covered by the agreement include medicinal
products, active pharmaceutical ingredients, pharmaceutical excipients or
mixtures thereof, for human or veterinary use.