EU monetary union with Israel?

Dreamer128 · 01-12-2005, 08:16 AM

11.01.2005 - 17:44 CET | By Honor Mahony
The European Commissioner for industry has spoken out in favour of stronger ties between the EU and Israel.

Writing in the German monthly journal, Internationale Politik, Guenter Veheugen said that he could "imagine Israel being widely integrated into the European economic structures" and "being a full participant in the internal market".

He also wrote that, in the long-term, he would "not even rule out monetary union" with Israel.

This is not the first time Mr Verheugen, who is serving his second term as European Commissioner, has spoken out in favour of stronger relations with Israel.

In 2003, during his time as enlargement Commissioner, Mr Verheugen spoke of a single market from Oslo to Jerusalem.

Mr Verheugen has retained a heavyweight post in the current Commission being responsible for co-ordinating the EU's legislation to bring it further towards its ambitious economic goals; he is also vice-president of the Commission.

Currently, EU relations with Israel are based on a neighbourhood agreement - the EU has several such agreements including ones with Ukraine, Morocco and Tunisia.

They have been characterised in the past by the Commission as being 'everything but the institutions'.

(EUObserver)

shamrock_uk · 01-12-2005, 09:43 AM

Does he have his head in the clouds? I can understand economic reasons, but it strikes me as being a little unrealistic because:

a) politically damaging for the EU's standing in the Middle-East
b) not popular with some European countries (given that most are generally anti-occupation)
c) Israel wouldn't pass many of the human rights and other tests that are a condition of EU entry
d) It's nowhere near Europe?

[ 01-12-2005, 09:48 AM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

Dreamer128 · 01-13-2005, 10:15 AM

Be careful not to confuse further economic cooperation with actual EU-membership. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
SFN monetary troubles	Ragash	Miscellaneous Games (RPG or not)	10	03-27-2004 09:25 AM
It's the State of the Union address tonight.	D W Washburn	General Conversation Archives (11/2000 - 01/2005)	39	02-10-2003 07:47 PM
State of the Union?	Rokenn	General Conversation Archives (11/2000 - 01/2005)	4	01-18-2003 08:14 PM
Union of Anglica?	Yorick	General Conversation Archives (11/2000 - 01/2005)	34	02-26-2002 11:29 PM
Keldorn family re-union	Janus	Baldurs Gate II: Shadows of Amn & Throne of Bhaal	18	12-03-2001 03:05 PM

01-12-2005, 08:16 AM	#1
Dreamer128 Dracolisk Join Date: March 21, 2001 Location: Europe Age: 39 Posts: 6,136	11.01.2005 - 17:44 CET \| By Honor Mahony The European Commissioner for industry has spoken out in favour of stronger ties between the EU and Israel. Writing in the German monthly journal, Internationale Politik, Guenter Veheugen said that he could "imagine Israel being widely integrated into the European economic structures" and "being a full participant in the internal market". He also wrote that, in the long-term, he would "not even rule out monetary union" with Israel. This is not the first time Mr Verheugen, who is serving his second term as European Commissioner, has spoken out in favour of stronger relations with Israel. In 2003, during his time as enlargement Commissioner, Mr Verheugen spoke of a single market from Oslo to Jerusalem. Mr Verheugen has retained a heavyweight post in the current Commission being responsible for co-ordinating the EU's legislation to bring it further towards its ambitious economic goals; he is also vice-president of the Commission. Currently, EU relations with Israel are based on a neighbourhood agreement - the EU has several such agreements including ones with Ukraine, Morocco and Tunisia. They have been characterised in the past by the Commission as being 'everything but the institutions'. (EUObserver)

01-12-2005, 09:43 AM	#2
shamrock_uk Dracolich Join Date: January 24, 2004 Location: UK Age: 41 Posts: 3,092	Does he have his head in the clouds? I can understand economic reasons, but it strikes me as being a little unrealistic because: a) politically damaging for the EU's standing in the Middle-East b) not popular with some European countries (given that most are generally anti-occupation) c) Israel wouldn't pass many of the human rights and other tests that are a condition of EU entry d) It's nowhere near Europe? [ 01-12-2005, 09:48 AM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

01-13-2005, 10:15 AM	#3
Dreamer128 Dracolisk Join Date: March 21, 2001 Location: Europe Age: 39 Posts: 6,136	Be careful not to confuse further economic cooperation with actual EU-membership. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)