JERUSALEM (EJP)---Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Israel hopes to upgrade its relations with the European Union “as soon as possible”.

“I think that the timing is right and we have the opportunity to move forward with the action plan and implement the action plan that we confirmed two years ago,” he said Sunday at a press conference after meeting with visiting EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

Ashton emphasized the “strong bond” between the EU and Israel. “We have a solid vibrant partnership in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy across an extensive range of sectors,” she said, adding that “there is a huge potential to further develop these relations.”