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**LottiFurmann** · 11-18-2009, 03:53 PM

http://ejpress.org/article/40515

From news article:
BRUSSELS (EJP)---An EU senior official said the European Union should upgrade its political and economic relations with Israel – frozen after the Gaza war in January - and grant this country the same status enjoyed by Norway.
Speaking at an event dinner organized Tuesday in Brussels to mark the 50 years of diplomatic relations between the EU and Israel, GÃ¼nter Verheugen, German Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Enterprise and Industry, said: “We should give Israel a long-term and clear credible European perspective”.
The process of upgrading the EU's relations with Israel, decided last year, was put "on hold" after Israel’s operation against Hamas in Gaza and linked to the restart of Mideast peace talks.

While not an EU member state, Norway required to adopt much EU legislation due to its participation in the European Economic Area (EEA), through the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The country has also chosen for participation in many of the EU’s programmes, institutions and activities.

"Israel is for the EU not a country like the others. There is no other country in the world with whom we have such visible and invisible links. Israel is part of our own history, our own culture and our own life," Verheugen said.
"We cannot deliver hard security to Israel but we can strengthen our economic and political relations", Verheugen, who described himself as “definitely pro-Israel”, added.

11-18-2009, 03:53 PM	#1
LottiFurmann Join Date Jan 2008 Posts 4,494 Senior Member	Sanity from Germany http://ejpress.org/article/40515 From news article: BRUSSELS (EJP)---An EU senior official said the European Union should upgrade its political and economic relations with Israel – frozen after the Gaza war in January - and grant this country the same status enjoyed by Norway. Speaking at an event dinner organized Tuesday in Brussels to mark the 50 years of diplomatic relations between the EU and Israel, GÃ¼nter Verheugen, German Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Enterprise and Industry, said: “We should give Israel a long-term and clear credible European perspective”. The process of upgrading the EU's relations with Israel, decided last year, was put "on hold" after Israel’s operation against Hamas in Gaza and linked to the restart of Mideast peace talks. While not an EU member state, Norway required to adopt much EU legislation due to its participation in the European Economic Area (EEA), through the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The country has also chosen for participation in many of the EU’s programmes, institutions and activities. "Israel is for the EU not a country like the others. There is no other country in the world with whom we have such visible and invisible links. Israel is part of our own history, our own culture and our own life," Verheugen said. "We cannot deliver hard security to Israel but we can strengthen our economic and political relations", Verheugen, who described himself as “definitely pro-Israel”, added.
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