Iran conflict to derail EU review of Israeli Association agreement
The EU is unlikely to suspend its association agreement with Israel in the context of its current conflict with Iran, sources familiar with the issue have told Euronews.
Last month a majority of the EU foreign ministers backed a Dutch proposal to review the bloc's ties with Israel over its actions in Gaza.
The EU's diplomatic corps, the External Action Service (EEAS), has been reviewing the bloc's wide-ranging trade and cooperation agreement with Israel over its military offensive in Gaza and the West Bank as well as its blocking of food, fuel, water and basic medical supplies to the besieged population.
The report was initiated to establish whether Israel violated its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, a broad-ranging pact that defines the trading and diplomatic relations between both sides.
On Monday, EU foreign ministers will debate the review, with several EU diplomatic sources saying it expected to find Israel in breach of the provisions.
But two sources familiar with the issue told Euronews that member states will not respond by suspending in all, or even part the agreement with Israel due to its war with Iran.
Some countries remain keen to push for a suspension. 'We can safely assume what the review will say; if it's going to be in any way credible it'll say Israel is in breach of Article 2,' an EU diplomat from a country which supported the review told Euronews, adding: 'The main matter of business is getting a ceasefire in Gaza – and whatever we decide to do, it should be aimed at getting at that.'
But a momentum of pressure recently applied to Israel has now slowed due to the war with Iran, the two sources said.
'The pendulum has swing back to [support for] Israel."
'It's unlikely the EU will suspend EU-Israel agreement due to Iran Israel war,' one of the sources said.
The position of Germany in the negotiations is also critical to the discussions as a decision to suspend part of the agreement under qualified majority voting will require the weight of Germany.
Last month German chancellor Friedrich Merz shifted the support of Germany - traditionally a stalwart ally of Israel - behind the decision to review the Association Agreement, saying he no longer understood the Israeli army's goal in Gaza.
'To harm the civilian population in such a way… can no longer be justified as a fight against terrorism,' Merz said at the time.
However, Merz has strongly supported Israel in the context of the current strikes on Iran saying at the G7 on Tuesday that 'Israel is doing the dirty work for the rest of us'.
'The strikes on Iran should be additional pressure on Israel to suspend the association agreement,' Martin Konecki, who heads the European Middle East Project, told Euronews.
'But now it could create the opposite, it will literally be reduced and it brings the attention away from Gaza,' he said.
EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has reiterated EU calls for a diplomatic resolution to the Israel-Iran war. And again called on all sides to 'abide by international law, and de-escalate the situation'.
'We will not lose sight of what is happening in Gaza... we again call for immediate full aid access, ceasefire, and the release of hostages,' she added.
Israel rejected the EU decision to review the bloc's trade and cooperation pact with the country over its intensified offensive in Gaza.
"We completely reject the direction taken in the statement, which reflects a total misunderstanding of the complex reality Israel is facing," Marmorstein wrote on X,' Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said at the time of the decision.
The EU's so-called Equal Treatment directive — aimed at extending protection against discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation — has reached a dead end, several EU officials told Euronews.
First proposed by the European Commission in 2008, the anti-discrimination bill has remained stalled in the European Council, despite progress in the European Parliament. The Council, which represents the 27 EU member states, has been unable to reach a consensus for years.
In February, the EU executive removed the proposal from its work programme for 2025, arguing that it was blocked and "further progress was unlikely". The draft bill was added to those to be withdrawn within six months, prompting the Polish presidency of the Council to try to reach an agreement under time pressure, but to no avail.
'While a very large majority of delegations has long supported the Directive, [...], certain others have expressed concerns and requested clarifications as relating to the perceived lack of legal certainty, the division of competences and compliance with the principle of subsidiarity, and the impact of the proposal, in particular in terms of potential financial implications,' reads a Council document seen by Euronews, sent by the presidency to member states on 6 June.
According to an impact assessment by the European Parliament Research Service (EPRS), around three-quarters of EU citizens would potentially benefit from the directive's protection, while implementation costs would remain 'within acceptable limits'.
However, three member states — Czechia, Germany, and Italy — still oppose the draft compromise text, which requires unanimous support from all 27 countries before negotiations can begin with the Parliament and the Commission to finalise the bill.
'In the absence of any additional drafting suggestions from the Member States with outstanding concerns, the Presidency has not been able to propose a new compromise text,' reads another leaked document from the same date, also seen by Euronews.
The Equal Treatment directive is expected to be discussed during a meeting of EU ministers responsible for social policy on Thursday. They will hold a policy debate on whether a compromise is within reach and whether there is a need for an alternative proposal.
The six-month Polish presidency of the Council ends later this month, and while the Danish presidency will try to continue working on the file from July, several EU officials claim that reaching an agreement remains very 'unlikely'.
An EU diplomat described the pursuit of a compromise as 'thorny', pointing to the Commission's continued interest in withdrawing the proposal — a move some member states also support.
Instead, the Commission plans to focus on non-legislative initiatives in 2025, such as the already unveiled roadmap on women's rights and the forthcoming strategies on LGBTIQ rights and anti-racism — a shift that has drawn criticism from NGOs and civil society organisations.
'Roadmaps are not laws; they are political statements with no enforceable protections,' argued Julie Pascoët, policy manager at the European Network Against Racism (ENAR).
'For these strategies to be effective, the EU must use them to highlight the urgent need for stronger legislation and concrete action,' Pascoët added.
The 2008 anti-discrimination bill aimed to close critical protection gaps in areas such as social protection (including social security and healthcare), education, and access to goods and services, including housing.
'Whilst it is extremely disappointing that the Commission goes along with the global political trend against equality policies, the unacceptable fact is that a small group of countries, led by Germany, have been blocking the adoption of this directive for 17 years,' Alejandro Moledo, deputy director at the European Disability Forum, told Euronews.
According to the latest EU survey, more than half of respondents said there is widespread discrimination in their country on the basis of being Roma (65%), skin colour (61%), ethnic origin (60%), gender identity (being transgender – 57%), or sexual orientation (54%).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
an hour ago
- Euronews
EU to influence Iran nuclear talks from sidelines in Geneva
The foreign ministers of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom - collectively known as the E3 - will meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva to discuss Iran's nuclear program in Geneva on Friday. While the EU has historically played a key role in negotiations with Iran, it seems unlikely to participate in the formal talks. When asked by Euronews whether EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas would participate in the talks, a European Commission spokesperson gave no clear confirmation. 'We have always expressed our openness to dialogue and negotiation. When such dialogue occurs, we will inform you,' the spokesperson said, leaving open the possibility of a last-minute invitation. Before the E3-Iran meeting, the European ministers are expected to meet with Kallas at Germany's permanent mission in Geneva however – a move that highlights the EU's continued efforts to coordinate and facilitate diplomacy, even if indirectly. Brussels has long played a central role in the Iran nuclear negotiations, particularly through the High Representative for Foreign Affairs in the broader EU+3 format – which once included other countries such as the United States, Russia and China. Under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the UN-brokered nuclear agreement aimed at lifting sanctions in exchange for Iran's compliance with nuclear obligations, the EU served as a key facilitator and guardian of the agreement's implementation. Under the previous administration of US President Donald Trump, Washington pulled out of the JCPOA. The upcoming talks are expected to revive dialogue in light of the escalating conflict and persuade Iran to provide credible guarantees that its nuclear program remains exclusively civilian in nature. However, the influence of the European parties has waned in recent months. The last E3-Iran meeting was held in January, shortly before Trump assumed office. Subsequent indirect US-Iran talks, brokered by Oman, failed to yield results, with the sixth planned round cancelled after the Israeli military strikes on Iran. Although not directly involved this time, the EU has played a behind-the-scenes role as a diplomatic facilitator, attempting to bridge divides among European countries and even between Europe and the US. The EU's presence in the talks has visibly diminished since the tenure of former High Representative Federica Mogherini, who was a prominent architect and staunch defender of the 2015 deal. Despite its limited visibility, the EU hopes that its coordinating efforts can still shape the outcome of the talks or at least keep the door open for renewed multilateral diplomacy on Iran's nuclear file.
Euronews
an hour ago
- Euronews
German and French industry united on EU aircraft sector tariffs
The German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) wants only completed products aircraft and helicopters to be targeted by the EU for retaliatory tariffs - leaving the market for the supply of parts unscathed - if trade negotiations between the EU and the US founder, the group has told Euronews. It's position aligns it with the French sector's stance. 'If the EU must respond, counter-tariffs should focus strictly on fully finished aerospace end products – such as complete aircraft and helicopters – and explicitly exclude spare parts or critical products,' BDLI said in an email to Euronews. 'This is essential to avoid unintended harm to European and global production networks.' US aircraft are included in the European Commission's draft listof €95 billion worth of US products that could face duties if ongoing negotiations fail. The list was open for industry consultation until 10 June and now awaits approval by EU member states. BDLI's position mirrors that of Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury, who also chairs the French aerospace association GIFAS. Speaking to French media in May, Faury backed tariffs on finished aircraft but warned against measures affecting spare parts, to avoid disrupting the global supply chain. A source familiar with the matter told Euronews that the French government supports the stance of its aerospace industry. In response to the EU's inclusion of aircraft in its draft retaliation list, the US has launched an investigation that could pave the way for the Trump administration to impose additional tariffs on the EU aerospace sector. Trade tensions between the EU and the US risk reignitingthe long-standing rivalry between aerospace giants Boeing and Airbus. However, the two economies' production systems are tightly intertwined. For instance, the LEAP engine, used in both Airbus and Boeing jets, is co-produced by US-based General Electric and France's Safran. Aircraft remain a central issue in ongoing EU-US negotiations. Following a discussion with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada on Monday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said both leaders had directed their teams to accelerate negotiation. EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič also met with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Monday, on the margins of the G7. A follow-up meeting with US counterparts is scheduled to take place in Washington on Thursday and Friday, an EU spokesperson confirmed. The US currently imposes tariffs of 50% on EU steel and aluminium, 25% on cars, and 10% on all other EU imports. President Trump has warned he will raise tariffs on all EU imports to 50% if no 'fair' agreement is reached by 9 July. The UK has the highest rate of telework among 18 European countries, with employees working an average of 1.8 days a week from home. On a wider scale, this total also places the UK second out 40 nations. But, aside from the UK, how do work-from-home (WFH) rates differ across Europe and the world? And what might explain variations between countries? The Global Survey of Working Arrangements (G-SWA) shows that telework trends have evolved since the COVID-19 pandemic. The fourth wave of the survey, conducted between November 2024 and February 2025, covers full-time workers aged 20 to 64 who have completed tertiary education (college or university). While the global telework average stands at 1.2 days per week, WFH rates vary significantly across the 40 countries surveyed, ranging from just 0.5 days per week in South Korea to 1.9 days in Canada. Several factors underpin the UK's top ranking, according to Dr. Cevat Giray Aksoy, lead economist at the EBRD and associate professor of economics at King's College London. 'The UK scores highly on cultural individualism, which is strongly associated with comfort in autonomous work environments,' said Giray Aksoy. Aksoy noted that the UK experienced long and stringent lockdowns, accelerating the adoption of remote work infrastructure and norms. He also explained that the UK's labour market is concentrated in service sectors — such as finance, consulting, and media — where WFH can be a practical option. "Crucially, British workers have developed strong and durable preferences for hybrid work, typically wanting 2–3 WFH days per week. This is no longer a marginal benefit; it's a core expectation," he said. Aksoy warned that firms ignoring this reality may face a serious disadvantage in attracting and retaining talent — particularly when competing with employers in other English-speaking countries that have embraced flexibility. In Europe, Finland (1.7 days) and Germany (1.6 days) followed the UK in the ranking. The WFH rates are also relatively high in Portugal (1.5 days), as well as in Hungary and the Netherlands (both 1.4 days). Employees in Czechia, Italy, and Sweden work from home 1.3 days per week, which is slightly above the global average. Romania, Spain, and Austria align with the global average, each reporting 1.2 remote work days per week. Dr. Aksoy attributes the variation across European countries to a mix of structural, cultural, and economic factors. 'Among these, the most powerful predictor is individualism — a cultural trait that emphasises personal autonomy, self-reliance, and independence over collective goals or close supervision,' he said. He added that other factors also play a role. These include the severity and duration of COVID-19 lockdowns, population density, and the industrial structure of each economy. For instance, countries with a larger share of remote-friendly sectors such as IT and finance are better positioned to support hybrid models. Densely populated countries also often see higher WFH levels, in part due to longer commutes. Greece reports the lowest WFH rate in Europe at just 0.6 days per week. 'Part of the explanation lies in the structure of the Greek economy, which leans heavily on sectors like tourism, retail, and hospitality — jobs that generally require physical presence,' said Aksoy. 'But deeper cultural and institutional factors also play a role. Greece scores relatively low on individualism,' he added. He stated that digital adoption and management practices were relatively underdeveloped before the pandemic, which likely slowed the normalisation of WFH. While Finland ranks second in Europe with 1.7 remote work days per week, Norway and Denmark report significantly lower rates at just 0.9 days. Sweden, with 1.3 days, sits in between, reflecting a clear divide in remote work trends across the Nordic countries. Aksoy explained that Finland has a slightly more individualistic culture and a long-standing emphasis on work-life balance and employee autonomy compared to Denmark and Norway, which may maintain more traditional management practices. 'Finnish organisations, especially in the public sector and technology industries, were early adopters of flexible work policies — even before the pandemic,' he added. Among Europe's five largest economies, France has the lowest remote work rate, with employees averaging just 1 day per week from home. Turkey follows closely at 0.9 days, while Poland is slightly ahead with 1.1 days. Overall levels of working from home have declined globally, dropping from an average of 1.6 days per week in 2022 to 1.33 days in 2023. In 2024 and 2025, they fell far more modestly to 1.27 days. The research concludes that remote work levels have roughly stabilised since 2023. 'However, this stability doesn't mean stasis. Incremental shifts could still occur — driven by new technologies, changing demographics, or evolving labour market conditions,' Aksoy added.
Euronews
2 hours ago
- Euronews
Israel-Iran conflict: EU and UK ministers to meet with Iran in Geneva
Foreign ministers from the UK, France, and Germany are due to meet their Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araqchi, in Geneva on Friday, as international efforts intensify to ease mounting tensions over Tehran's nuclear programme. The talks come as U.S. President Donald Trump says he will decide within two weeks whether to join Israel's ongoing military campaign against Iran, amid reports that Washington is actively considering intervention. 'The president will make a decision on whether to attack Iran within two weeks,' the White House said on Thursday, adding that communication with Tehran continues and a diplomatic resolution remains possible. Geneva, where the talks will take place, is the same city where an initial deal was reached in 2013 between Iran and world powers to limit its nuclear activity. Following a meeting in Washington with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the situation in the Middle East as 'perilous'. 'We discussed how a deal could avoid a deepening conflict,' Lammy said. 'A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution.' Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahraini, told Euronews that 'the minimum thing Europeans can do is to very explicitly condemn Israel and stop their support for Israel.' Meanwhile, Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, said Iran's supreme leader 'can no longer be allowed to exist,' as strikes between the two countries continue. Join us for live updates as Euronews reporters in the region and acrossEurope bring you live updates on dramatic events in the Middle East.
