Javier Solana: Israel closer to EU than Croatia

The European Union’s outgoing foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, has said Israel had a closer relationship with the EU than Croatia, currently a candidate for EU membership. "Israel is closer to the European Union than any other country in the world outside Europe”, Solana told the Israeli Presidential Conference in Jerusalem. He pointed to the “deep and close” cultural, historical and trade ties and active participation in all its programs”.

"Israel is, allow me to say, a member of the European Union without being a member of the institutions. It’s a member of all the EU programs, including the research and technology programs", he said. Croatia is candidate to EU and could join the union in 2012. "I don't see the president of Croatia here," Solana said, looking out over the audience. "Don't tell him that," Solana added. Croatian President Stipe Mesic was also attending the conference, hosted by President Shimon Peres, as part of a visit to Israel.