The activities and dialogue implemented in the ESSP activities are today reinforced by the joining of Palestine, in response to the invitation of the European Commission dating from July 2015 and addressing the Southern neighborhood of the European Union as a whole.

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Agriculture in Palestine is strongly constrained by local pedoclimatic conditions and the geopolitical situation in the Palestinian territories. It remains a significant sector for the economy and employment[1], as it is also of major symbolic importance. The priorities evoked by the Palestinian stakeholders during the preliminary meetings destined to the implementation of ENPARD South Initiative should be put into perspective concerning relations between Palestine and the European Union, notably the association agreement dating from 1997.

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These priorities are mainly focused on improving the competitiveness of its national production by upgrading and adding value to its local products and accessing European markets (norms and good practices) as well as sustainable management of its resources and adopting economically efficient and environmentally friendly practices.

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The main goal being pursued at present is to implement public policies that will allow agriculture to fully benefit from the advantages granted by the EU through measures adopted in November 2010 (« no quotas, no tariffs »). The latter occurs through an increase in agricultural productivity, improving quality of food – by respecting the norms imposed on the products entering the European market – and by operating on niche markets that are accessible to local products (red fruits, olive oil, fresh aromatic herbs, dates, cherry tomatoes, flowers...).

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After having identified a first wave of priority themes, the Palestinian stakeholders and ESSP team have jointly determined their working methodology (creating a Palestinian think tank, organising national workshops to promote the dialogue between actors on the previously targeted themes…). A kick off seminar will be organized during May 2016, which will be followed by a technical workshop on socio-economic issues around the use of water in agriculture, with a focus on the treated water. Other meetings will be held over the course of 2016 on the themes evoked during the preliminary meetings: processing and promotion of “niche” products; conducting a diagnosis of the strategic productions chains (olive oil, table grape) in order to increase their productivity…

 

 

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[1] Representing 12.3% of the working population in 2013, according to the Palestine Trade Center (the figure is relative as the informal is predominant in the primary sector), and 26% of exports in sales of agricultural products and agro food in 2012, according to the Treasury Department.