Brussels, 09/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in Council, the EU transport ministers adopted without debate, on 7 April, a mandate authorising the European Commission to open talks with Israel with a view to concluding a comprehensive air agreement with Israel. The agreement will take the place of the bilateral air agreements that exist between EU member states and Israel, and will aim at integrating Israeli airspace with that of the EU. Negotiations may be concluded at the end of 2008. According to Radovan Zerjav, the Slovenian transport minister and president-in-office of the Council, once set in place the agreement would make it possible to step up the frequency of flights between the EU and Israel. “The added value of the agreement may in the long term encourage other countries of the same region to do the same”, and contribute to strengthening cooperation in the region, he said. The Council has, moreover, also adopted without debate two decisions on signing “horizontal” air agreements (aimed at bringing existing bilateral air agreements into line with Community law) with Nepal and Australia. (A.By.)