12/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 9 November, the European Commission adopted a communication, in which it asks the Council for a negotiating mandate with a view to the conclusion of the global aviation agreement with Israel. According to the Commission, the EU is the largest aviation partner of Israel, with 4.5 million passengers travelling between the two entities every year (representing 54% of Israel's international passenger traffic). Israel's major partners, according to the Commission's estimations, are France (661,000 passengers a year), the United Kingdom (651,000), Germany (626,000), Italy (579,000), Spain (364,000) and the Netherlands (266 000). (A.By.)