Israel and the Eec

Israel is insisting that its agreements with the European Common Market contain provisions for financial benefits equal to any that might be extended to other Mediterranean nations concluding pacts with the European Economic Community. Israeli leaders are making that clear to Francois-Xavier Ortoli, president of the EEC Commission, who arrived here Saturday for a four-day official visit.

Israel wants to benefit from the financial assistance and credits extended by the EEC to developing countries. Foreign Minister Yigal Allon told Ortoli at a meeting yesterday that if the Maghreb states–Morocco-Algeria-Tunisia–win a “financial protocol” as part of their impending agreement with the EEC, Israel would insist on the same treatment as only fair and proper.

Israel concluded its agreement with the Common Market last July. Negotiations between the EEC and the Maghreb states and with Spain and Malta are still in progress and are expected to be completed shortly.

Many of the provisions of the EEC-Maghreb pact are similar to the pact with Israel under the so-called “global tariff” arrangement for the Mediterranean area. Allon and Premier Yitzhak Rabin briefed the EEC official–who holds the rank of head of government–on political developments in the area. Rabin stressed that Israel wanted as much trade and cooperation with Europe as possible, regardless of political differences with some Common Market nations.

Reports that Ortoli’s visit might result in the establishment of an EEC information office in Israel to help foster foreign trade ties have not been borne out. Ortoli is understood to have explained that there was no budget available to open an office and that there was not much demand for one at this time by EEC members. Ortoli and his party of five aides are continuing to hold talks here with Finance Minister Yehoshua Rabinowitz, Minister of Commerce and Industry Haim Barlev and senior officials of both ministries.