The EU is planning to call on Israel to cut down on the limitations it imposes on importing fresh produce from Europe.
The new approach will be on the agenda during the forthcoming first meeting to be held in Jerusalem next month of the EU-Israel committee on upgrading the co-operation between Israel and EU member countries.
A report in NRG notes that the EU would demand that Israel ease its protectionism on the country's agriculture, and cancel the import quotas imposed on European agricultural produce slated for export to Israel.
Trade sources in Tel Aviv commented that this demand is rejected by the agricultural sector "fearing that the local market will be flooded with European vegetables, fruit and milk products".
At present, farmers in EU member countries enjoy large subsidies, which enable them to export their products at a relatively low prices.
Facing the demands by the EU, Israel will request that the EU increase the number and volume of Israeli made products exported to the EU.
It is estimated that the agricultural topic will be one of the toughest topics during the discussions aimed at upgrading the economic relations between Israel and the EU.
The demand by the EU is backed by the WTO in its report on Israel's economy, in which it criticised Israel for providing protection to its agricultural sector.
