The European Economic Community’s Council of Ministers decided here today that a commercial agreement must definitely be reached between the six-nation European Common Market and Israel.
In a communique issued by the Council after today’s session, which had opened yesterday, the ruling body of the EEC stated: “The Council had a new exchange of views on commercial relations between the Community and Israel. In this framework, the Council decided on a number of proposals which could be made by the Community with a view toward the conclusion of a commercial agreement.”
At the same time, the Council instructed its representatives, who are to meet in March for a third round of talks with Israeli representatives, to examine “in a positive manner” a number of suggestions made by Euromart’s Commission, “with a view to broadening the proposals likely to be made by the Community.”
Measures to be proposed by the Community, and the Commission’s suggestions, were not spelled out in the communique. However, Jean Rey, Minister of the EEC Commission in charge of Foreign Relations, had indicated two weeks ago that he was confident the third round of talks about an EEC-Israeli link would result in an initial agreement with Israel. In the two earlier talks between Israel and the Euromart, Israel had been offered only minor concessions relating to some trivial exports.
M. Rey, who had visited Israel since the second round of talks which had failed to reach a conclusive agreement with Israel, had conceded that some of the difficulties involved the fact that all of the member states of the Euromart had interests in the Mediterranean area, Just as Israel has. He was certain, however, that the March talks would facilitate an agreement which, “while not complete, would be a first step for later enlargement.”
Against that background, it was understood that today’s Council meeting had discussed M. Rey’s report and would instruct its representatives to the March talks with Israel accordingly. The Commission headed by M. Rey is the highest policy-making body of the EEC which includes France, Italy, West Germany. The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
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