A Dutch proposal to review the EU’s trade and cooperation with Israel over the situation in Gaza is steadily gaining support among a group of member states before it is set to be formally discussed by foreign ministers in Brussels next week.
Belgium, Finland, France, Portugal and Sweden have all publicly backed the initiative put forward by Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp – whose government is considered a firm ally of Israel – in a letter to the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas last week.
In that letter, seen by Euronews, Veldkamp shares his view that the “humanitarian blockade” on Gaza, where critical supplies have not entered for more than ten weeks, is in violation of international humanitarian law and therefore of Article 2 of the so-called Association Agreement that governs relations and trade between the EU and Israel.
Article 2states that relations “shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which guides their internal and international policy and constitutes an essential element of this agreement.”
The EU is Israel’s biggest trading partner.
The idea of reviewing the agreement was first tabled by Ireland and Spain in a yet-unanswered letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen 15 months ago, but failed to secure the firm backing of any other EU country.
Eight countries have now explicitly endorsed the idea ahead of talks next Tuesday. While this is far short of the unanimous support needed, it signals a shift in thinking among the 27.
Speaking to French broadcaster TF1 on Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron described the situation in Gaza as “shameful” and said that the prospect of suspending cooperation with Israel was “an open question” for the EU.
“We can’t just pretend nothing happened,” Macron said. “We have to raise the pressure on these issues.”
In response to the interview, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has accused Macron of choosing to “once again (…) stand with a murderous Islamist terrorist organization and echo its despicable propaganda.”
EU countries still deeply split
The EU’s position on the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, triggered by Hamas’ attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023, has always been deeply divided.
The Netherlands seems to have shifted its position amid the 10-week-long Israeli blockade on critical aid such as medicine and food, which Israel says is an effort to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages held captive since the 7 October attacks.
Under plans agreed last week, Israel intends to expand its war on Hamas in Gaza and replace its current system for distributing aid to a privately controlled delivery operation, sidelining UN agencies. The UN has denounced the plan as a “deliberate attempt to weaponise aid.”
In his letter, the Dutch foreign minister said these plans appeared incompatible with the “principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence”.
Yet German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has since indicated support for a similar Israeli-backed US aid distribution plan, saying during his visit to Jerusalem earlier this week that aid would still flow “based on international humanitarian principles.”
ADVERTISEMENTGiven the unlikelihood of achieving unanimous support, non-profit groups have been calling on the European Commission to bypass the capitals by directly examining Israel’s compliance with Article 2 and proposing “appropriate measures” to the European Council.
Former EU High Representative Josep Borrell personally tabled the prospect of suspending ties with Israel back in November, which ultimately led to the convening of a closed-door meeting between the Israeli foreign minister and his EU counterparts.
In that meeting, chaired by Borrell’s successor Kaja Kallas, calls for reviewing Article 2 were completely muted as a ceasefire was in force in Gaza.
Kallas said last week the Dutch proposal would be examined by EU foreign ministers on 20th of May and that other possible responses would be “brainstormed”.
ADVERTISEMENTA European Commission spokesperson emphasised on Tuesday that the proposal to review the Association Agreement would require the unanimous backing of all EU member states.
