The European Union’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has criticized Israel for not easing the three-year blockade on the Gaza Strip.

"Gaza remains a source of great concern for me," Ashton said on Monday, speaking on behalf of all EU foreign ministers.

"At the present time, we think that what’s happened with Gaza is unsatisfactory, the volume of goods is not increasingly as significantly as it needs to," she added.

In June, Israel vowed to loosen its crippling siege on the coastal enclave after its commandos in international waters killed nine Pro-Palestinian activists, who were trying to deliver humanitarian supplies to the impoverished people of Gaza.

The EU official also urged Tel Aviv to allow exports out of Gaza and to let in construction materials for building of schools in the region.

"It is absolutely essential that the economy is allowed to recover and that people are allowed to invest in their futures," Ashton said.

She also voiced her concern over the failure of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

The ongoing Israeli settlement construction issue put an end to the US-sponsored direct negotiations, which began in early September.

"Not surprisingly there is a lot of concern with the current lack of progress and with the ongoing settlement activities," Ashton said.

(Press TV)