Latest news with #EU-IsraelAssociationAgreement
RTÉ News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Review to find Israel violated trade agreement with EU
A review into Israel's compliance with its human rights obligations, enshrined in its trade and political relations with the European Union, will be circulated to member states later today. The review, which was ordered by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, is expected to find that Israel is in violation of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement in its conduct of the Gaza war. Article 2 of the agreement binds both parties to human rights and international humanitarian law. Critics of Israel's treatment of the Palestinian population of Gaza have long argued that it is in breach of those obligations and that the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which governs trade, political and educational links, should be suspended, in whole or in part. Ireland and Spain called for such a move in February last year. However, member states traditionally supportive of Israel, such Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic, were opposed, meaning there was no consensus. Last month the Dutch foreign minister - himself a former ambassador to Israel, and a long time supporter - revived the idea. It followed Israel's weeks-long humanitarian blockade of Gaza. The Dutch proposal did garner majority support among national capitals and Ms Kallas ordered a review, which is expected to find that Israel is in violation of Article 2. EU foreign ministers will address the review when they meet on Monday, and Ms Kallas will also brief EU leaders at their summit on Thursday. However, in order to avoid bitter divisions, diplomats say member states could defer action against Israel for one month in the hope that it massively restore humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Leaders
19 hours ago
- Business
- Leaders
9 EU Countries Call for Ending Trade with Israeli Settlements
Nine European Union (EU) member states have demanded the European Commission to propose measures to end trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. According to a letter seen by Reuters on Thursday, the foreign ministers of Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden made the request, addressing the EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas. Halting Trade The nine countries asked the bloc to come up with proposals on how to halt trade with the Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, citing a July 2024 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ advisory opinion stated that Israel's settlements and occupation of Palestinian territories are in violation of international law. It also urged states to take actions to suspend trade or investment ties that could contribute to sustaining this situation. A Call for Action In their letter to Kallas, the ministers urged the EU to act towards concrete measures to ensure the bloc's adherence with the ICJ's rulings. 'We have not seen a proposal to initiate discussions on how to effectively discontinue trade of goods and services with the illegal settlements,' the ministers said in the letter. 'We need the European Commission to develop proposals for concrete measures to ensure compliance by the Union with the obligations identified by the Court,' the letter added. EU-Israeli Trade According to the European Commission data, the EU is Israel's largest trading partner, accounting for 32% of Israel's total trade in goods in 2024. The bloc was the source of 34.2% of Israel's imports and the recipient of 28.8% of the country's exports. In 2024, the total trade in goods between the EU and Israel reached €42.6 billion. The top traded goods between the EU and Israel included machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, and other manufactured goods. Reassessing Ties The relations between the EU and Israel are governed by the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which came into effect in 2000 and has since regulated the relations between the bloc and Israel across various fields. The Association Agreement also states that relations between both sides should be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles. The foreign ministers letter came ahead of a meeting in Brussels on June 23, 2025, which will discuss the bloc's relations with Israel. The meeting will take place upon the request of EU ministers who demanded a review of the Association Agreement in May in light of the 'catastrophic situation' in Gaza. During the meeting, the ministers will receive an assessment on whether Israel is complying with a human rights clause in its agreement with the EU. Compliance with International Law Commenting on the letter, the Belgian Foreign Minister, Maxime Prevot, noted that the EU must ensure that the bloc's trade policies are in compliance with the international law. 'Trade cannot be disconnected from our legal and moral responsibilities,' he told Reuters. 'This is about ensuring that EU policies do not contribute, directly or indirectly, to the perpetuation of an illegal situation,' he added. In May 2025, Israel announced plans to establish 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, a controversial move backed by the Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, and Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich. Israel has built about 160 settlements, housing some 700,000 Jews, since it occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967, according to BBC. The international law deems settlements illegal. However, successive Israeli governments have allowed settlements to expand, most notably since the return of Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to power in late 2022. Short link : Post Views: 1
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Human rights organisations call on EU to suspend Israel trade
Over 100 international human rights and humanitarian organisations, as well as trade unions, have jointly called on the EU to suspend elements of its trade association with Israel as a result of its continuing war on Gaza. The signatories of the joint statement - published by Human Rights Watch (HRW) - include ActionAid Ireland, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and Oxfam Ireland. The EU is currently reviewing Israel's compliance with the EU-Israel Association Agreement, in particular Article 2, which binds both sides to human rights and international humanitarian law obligations. EU foreign ministers are expected to address the review at a meeting in Brussels on Monday, although it is unclear yet if member states will agree to suspend elements of the trade agreement. The statement, signed by 113 organisations, called on the EU to "ensure that the ongoing review of Israel's compliance with Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement be thorough, comprehensive, and credible. "Article 2 establishes that respect for human rights and democratic principles constitutes an 'essential element' of the agreement. "Amid overwhelming evidence of Israel's atrocity crimes and other egregious human rights abuses against Palestinians throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), a credible review can only reach one conclusion: that Israel is in severe non-compliance with Article 2." The statement calls on the European Commission and all member states to support "meaningful and concrete measures, including the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, at least in part." 'Appalled' The signatories say they are "appalled" that it took the EU so long to launch the review, despite an initial request by Spain and Ireland in February 2024. A review was finally ordered by the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas last month after a majority of EU foreign ministers supported a Dutch proposal to test whether Israel was not complying with Article 2. The statement pointed to international court rulings, arrest warrants issued by International Criminal Court, and numerous reports by UN bodies, independent experts, prominent NGOs and scholars which "[exposed] Israel's very serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law throughout the Occupied Territories, including war crimes, crimes against humanity - including forced displacement, apartheid and extermination - and genocide." South Africa has taken a case to the International Court of Justice alleging that Israel is responsible for genocide in the conduct of its war in Gaza. The case is ongoing. The joint statement says that despite similar findings being presented to EU foreign ministers in November 2024, the only action taken was a convening of the EU-Israel Association Council in February. Despite ministers at that meeting calling for a ceasefire, humanitarian aid at scale, full respect for international humanitarian law and a halting of Israel's illegal settlement policy, "Israeli authorities blatantly did the exact opposite of all that, [with] once again to no consequence for EU-Israel bilateral relations – until now." The statement adds that there were three separate binding rulings issued by the ICJ following Israel's decision to blockade humanitarian aid from entering Gaza which called on the government to allow the unhindered access of aid. "As parties to the Genocide Convention, all EU member states have the obligation to 'employ all means reasonably available to them' to prevent a genocide," the statement said. "That obligation arises not when a definitive judicial determination is made, but as soon as a state learns, or should normally have learned, of a serious risk that genocide may be committed."
Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Iran conflict to derail EU review of Israeli association agreement
BRUSSELS — 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 conflict with 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 conflict with Iran, the two sources said.'The pendulum has swung back to [support for] Israel."'It's unlikely the EU will suspend EU-Israel agreement due to Iran Israel war,' one of the sources 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 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 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 Konecny, 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 foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has reiterated EU calls for a diplomatic resolution to the Israel-Iran conflict. 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 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," Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said on X at the time of the decision. — Euronews
Euronews
2 days ago
- Business
- Euronews
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%).
