EU says no support among members for proposals to suspend Association Agreement with Israel
Speaking at a news conference following a Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, Kaja Kallas said some member states proposed a full or partial suspension of the agreement. PHOTO: ANADOLU
There was no support for proposals to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement completely or partially, the bloc's foreign policy chief confirmed on Tuesday.
Speaking at a news conference following a Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, Kaja Kallas said some member states proposed a full or partial suspension of the agreement, as well as restrictions on trade coming from settlements.
She noted that some member states expressed opposition to the proposals.
My press remarks in full here ↓https://t.co/Y2MK0D5JbB
"Given that the suspension of the association agreement needs anonymity, there was no support for this needed in the room," noted Kallas.
She said, however, that discussions will continue.
Her remarks came after Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said a proposal to suspend the agreement has been shelved, and that EU members will discuss alternatives next month.
Read More: European Left Alliance urges EU ministers to suspend Israel agreement
"We have a different position from Spain, because theirs doesn't seem like the right path to take. Our position is identical to Germany's," Tajani told reporters on the sidelines of a EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting.
European countries were divided on trade ties with Israel, as Spain and Ireland pushed for the suspension, while others, including Germany, expressed opposition to the idea.
On Iran, Kallas reiterated that the EU already has sweeping sanctions in place and has reached a political agreement to widen its sanctions regime to target those responsible for breaches of freedom of navigation.
A million signatures against Israel
The European Left Alliance on Monday called on EU foreign ministers to immediately suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, saying a citizens’ initiative demanding action on Palestine had collected more than one million signatures.
In a joint statement issued ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on Tuesday, the alliance said the European Citizens’ Initiative Justice for Palestine had exceeded the required threshold in less than three months.
According to the group, the initiative also passed the national signature threshold in 11 EU member states, above the minimum of seven required under EU rules.
“This is the loudest democratic mandate the European Union has received on its foreign policy in years, and it leaves the Foreign Affairs Council with no excuse to delay any longer,” the alliance said in a statement.
The group accused Israel of continuing “to wage a genocide in Gaza”, intensifying “illegal annexation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem” and carrying out strikes on Lebanon.