European countries, including Spain and Ireland, called for suspending a European Union (EU) pact with Israel during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg. Concerns over Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and a new death penalty law prompted this discussion. Spain’s Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, emphasized that Europe’s credibility is at stake and pushed for a debate on suspending the association agreement that has been in place since 2000. However, many diplomats believed no decision would be made due to differing opinions among member states regarding changes to EU policies on Israel.
In September, the European Commission suggested suspending certain trade-related parts of the agreement, which affects approximately 5.8 billion euros of Israeli exports. Israel reacted by claiming the proposals were “morally and politically distorted. ” For any change to the trade agreement, a qualified majority, which includes 15 out of 27 member states representing 65% of the EU population, is needed. A complete suspension, however, requires unanimous consent from all countries. Currently, the proposal lacks enough support.
Germany and Italy have maintained their positions, with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul highlighting the need for critical dialogue with Israel and emphasizing the importance of a two-state solution. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani noted that no decisions could be made due to political conditions and expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of blocking the trade agreement, which could harm ordinary Israelis.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen indicated that there was no apparent majority favoring changes to the association agreement, citing the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Meanwhile, some ministers from countries like Ireland and Belgium advocated for a shift in policy, with Belgium calling for at least a partial suspension. The EU is Israel’s largest trading partner, with trade projected at 42.6 billion euros in 2024.
Proposals for sanctions against violent settlers and extremist Israeli ministers also exist but require unanimous support. Sweden and France presented a paper urging stronger action to limit commercial ties with illegal settlements. Some ministers are exploring ways to increase pressure on Israel to achieve behavioral changes rather than simply suspending the trade section. The international community largely views Israeli settlements in the West Bank as illegal, a position disputed by Israel.
With information from Reuters
