On the 17 of May 2005, the European Commission published its proposal for a decision on the signing and provisional application of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the State of Israel, of the other part, on a framework Agreement between the
European Community and the State of Israel on the general principles governing the State of Israel’s participation in Community programmes.

The Association Agreements that are in force between the EU and Israel have been established since 2000. There are also Agreements in force between the EU and Tunisia (since 1998), Morocco (2000), Jordan (2002), Egypt (2004) and on an interim basis with the Palestinian Authority (1997). The provisions of the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements governing bilateral relations vary from one Mediterranean Partner to the other; as time has gone on more areas of cooperation have been included. However they have certain aspects in common:

• Political dialogue.
• Respect for human rights and democracy.
• Establishment of WTO-compatible free trade over a transitional period of up to 12 years.
• Provisions relating to intellectual property, services, public procurement, competition rules, state aids and monopolies.
• Economic cooperation in a wide range of sectors.
• Cooperation relating to social affairs and migration (including re-admission of illegal immigrants).
• Cultural cooperation.

This comes from the 18th June 2007 when the Council authorised the Commission to negotiate a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement with the State of Israel on a framework Agreement on the general principles governing the State of Israel’s participation in Community programmes. The negotiations have been concluded to the satisfaction of the Commission. Also Israel is an Associated non candidate country for the Science and Technology cooperation agreement.  This comes recently after Europe refreshed its agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation with New Zealand in April 2008.