Israel and a Euro-Mediterranean internal market

Article abstract:

This article briefly surveys existing barriers to European Community (EC)-Israel trade in the sectors and fields of co-operation that the Commission and the Euro-Mediterranean ministerial conferences have identified as important to the formation of a Euro-Mediterranean internal market. In each issue area, the article describes the Israeli commitments under the Association Agreement and relevant multilateral agreements, and the practice of EC-Israeli exchange. The general conclusion is that while Israel aspires to OECD institutional and legislative standards, die-hard monopolies still persist in various sectors, and well-intentioned government officials still believe in the need for government planning and regulation in many sectors.