Mapping Israel’s policy options regarding future institutionalised relations with the European Union

Abstract:

The nature of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership will change with the enlargement of the EU to include 13 additional members since all Mediterranean non-Arab countries will be in the EU but Israel. Israel will be obliged to revise its relations with the EU . The paper explores some possible policy options open to Israel. After discarding a continuation of Israel's present status in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, a second policy option gauges advantages and disadvantages for Israel of obtaining membership in the European Economic Area, i.e. full economic integration without political integration in the EU. Taking into consideration quantum political changes which have taken place in and around the EU, as well as in the Middle East, a third Israeli policy option postulates EU membership, so as not to be left behind and which would bring a 'new vision' for Israel, once peace with its neighbours is in the offing, allowing for a complete change of the present terms of reference.