The question of association of Israel with the European Common Market, a subject of vigorous dispute within the countries making up the ECM, was shelved today for later consideration by the Foreign Ministers of the six member nations.
Israel’s candidacy was raised last night at a meeting of the Foreign Ministers by Maurice Couve de Murville of France. The move was immediately opposed by a number of other Foreign Ministers, including Antonio Segni of Italy.
Resistance to acceptance of Israel, it was indicated, is based on several arguments. One is that the constitution of the ECM provides admission only to European countries and their African associates. A number of countries, it was also reported, were reluctant to admit underdeveloped countries which have not yet reached the stage of economic and industrial development of the European members.
A third point is the objection of some member countries, such as Italy, which have close economic relations with the Arab world. Finally, a number of Common Market members fear Israel’s export competition, particularly in citrus fruits.
The European Common Market, an economic unit of France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg, is considered widely to be a first step toward greater European political integration. For Israel, association with the ECM would have not only economic but political benefits.
The Foreign Ministers fixed December 4 as the date for their next meeting at which it was considered possible that the question of admission of Israel might be re-examined.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
