European Union leaders gathered in Brussels on Thursday for discussions expected to be dominated by calls from Spain and Slovenia to suspend the bloc’s association agreement with Israel over the Gaza humanitarian crisis.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the EU must “immediately” suspend its association agreement with Israel, arguing the bloc applies double standards by imposing sanctions on Russia whilst maintaining ties with Israel despite alleged human rights violations.
“It makes no sense that we have imposed seventeen rounds of sanctions on Russia for its aggression against Ukraine, yet Europe, applying double standards, is unable to even suspend an association agreement when Israel is flagrantly violating Article 2 on respect for human rights,” Sanchez said.
Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob warned that unless the EU agrees to put “real pressure” on Israel, a coalition of member states would act independently. He said the bloc’s credibility on rule of law was undermined by its “inadequate response to the atrocities happening in Gaza”.
“Unless the European Union is going to do something tangible either today or in a matter of two weeks, then each member state, including Slovenia, and some of the like-minded countries, we will have to do the next steps on our own,” Golob said.
The pressure follows an eight-page review by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas that found “indications” Israel was breaching human rights obligations under Article 2 of the partnership agreement. Kallas said the EU would discuss “further measures” if Israel fails to improve the Gaza situation.
However, several member states including Germany and Italy opposed launching the review, highlighting divisions within the 27-nation bloc over policy towards Israel.
Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin described the “degree of carnage and destruction” in Gaza as requiring “strong” humanitarian and political responses, calling it “incomprehensible” that Europe cannot pressure Israel to end the conflict.
The one-day summit agenda also covers the Israel-Iran conflict, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, transatlantic relations under President Donald Trump, tariffs, migration and climate targets under the Green Deal.
Sanchez reiterated support for a two-state solution, stating there was “no other alternative if we want to get to the root of the conflict and find a solution to it”.
