Informed sources said here today it was doubtful that the Council of Ministers, the supreme body of the European Economic Community, would do more tomorrow than note Israel’s request for associate membership in the European Common Market, when the matter is discussed at a Council meeting in Brussels.
The sources said that all six member Governments of Euromart are in agreement that the present, limited Israel-EEC agreement, which expires at the end of next June, is not filling Israel’s needs. Nevertheless, they feel, high level political action will be needed to ensure success of Israel’s bid for associate membership.
Such action will come next spring when Premier Levi Eshkol will visit Europe and meet with President de Gaulle of France and Chancellor Ludwig Erhard of West Germany. West Germany’s position on Israel’s request was reviewed again at a meeting yesterday between Foreign Minister Abba Eban and Dr. Rolf Pauls, Bonn’s Ambassador to Israel. It was believed that Dr. Pauls reiterated West Germany’s sympathetic attitude on the issue. The members of the EEC, in addition to Germany and France are Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
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.
