Israel Country of First Priority for Upgrade in Relations with Europe
(Communicated by the Foreign Minister's Bureau)
November 17, 2003

Following discussions today between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom and Gunter Verheugen, the EU Commissioner for
Enlargement, Israel was listed as country of first priority for an upgrade
in relations with Europe. The leaders met today during at the EU-Israel
Association Council Meeting in Brussels.

Commissioner Verheugen said that he plans to travel to Israel during the
first part of 2004. He also said that by mid-December he will send a
professional team to Israel to begin official discussions. FM Shalom
established a professional team to coordinate Israeli inter-agency issues.
EU-Israeli discussions will focus on economic cooperation, improving Israel'
s ability to compete in European markets, strengthening trade relations,
R&D, environmental issues and immigration issues.