Josep Borrell, the outgoing head of EU diplomacy and Janez Lenarčič, EU crisis management commissioner, published a joint message in connection with the planned Israeli offensive in the Chan Junus (Khan Younis) exile camp in Gaza. The text, which appeared on 5 July, states that the Israeli Government's "deep concern" is being made, as well as the request to respect and implement the legally binding provisions of the global Court of Justice of 26 January and 24 May 2024.
These are not the first specified gestures of the European Union completely ignored by the Israeli side. At the end of May, Borrell formally invited Tel Aviv to an ad hoc gathering of the EU-Israel Association Council to discuss the terms of the association agreement in connection with the Israeli offensive in Gaza and activities in the West Bank. Netanjahu, with a typical hucpa, refused to meet without hiding that he was waiting for Hungary, a close ally of Israel, to take over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and a Council gathering planned for this time, during which all aspects of the Union's cooperation with Israel will be discussed.
Without the support of the United States, the European Union has limited capacity to exert force on Israel. However, there is 1 very concrete action that can be taken. This is simply a revision of the Association Agreement, including the Free Trade Agreement, on the basis of which the associate States have maintained economical relations with Israel since 2000. Its Article 2 explicitly states that "The relations between the Parties as well as all the provisions of the Agreement itself shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles which form the basis of their interior and global policies and constitute an essential component of this Agreement".
The European Union is Israel's largest trading partner and is liable for 31.3% of its trade; 33.5% of imported goods and 28.1% of exported goods (2023). Israel accounts for only 0.6% of EU imports and 1% of EU exports and ranks 27th in the ranking of EU trade partners. EU exports to Israel amounted to EUR 28.4 billion in 2023, imports EUR 17.7 billion. The majority of this amount, both for exports and imports, is liable for the trade in machinery and transport equipment.
This means that the European Union has an instrument of emphasis in its hands – the anticipation of imposing trade sanctions. It may besides reduce the benefits of the European Neighbourhood Policy (the anticipation to participate in Horizon Europe or to contribute EUR 1.8 million per year to Twinning).
The thought to exploit trade force first appeared in February of this year. Ireland and Spain took steps in this direction. However, the initiative was not supported by most associate States.
Since the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023 Israel is blocking the right to defend itself by retaliating on the Palestinian population. He has been bombing the Gaza Strip for 8 months, depriving Palestinians of access to water, food and medical care. Civilians endure from this: 38,000 have already been reported dead, but this figure is estimated to scope up to 186 1000 if we number the missing under the rubble and the dead due to deficiency of drugs or hunger. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers at the approval of the army attack Palestinian people and destruct their property. The European Union has not yet found an answer to this clear and full intended violation of human rights. Meanwhile, the fresh EU strategical Programme for the period 2024-2029 states that "continuation of efforts to advance planet peace (...) and universal human rights".
Although abroad trade is an crucial component of European Union abroad policy, so far trade restrictions in consequence to human rights violations have only been imposed 3 times: in the case of Myanmar in 1997, Belarus in 2007 and Sri Lanka in 2010.
With Hungary taking over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the possible of taking coordinated action to revise the Association Agreement with Israel is moving distant (and the widely criticized Friday visit of Prime Minister Orban to Moscow clearly shows that he intends to conduct his own abroad policy). Will the another associate States coordinate their actions and take steps to halt the suffering of the Palestinian population?
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Dr. Catherine Sidło – technological manager for mediate East and North Africa at the Centre for Socio-Economic Analysis (CASE).
The content of the comment is the opinion of a CASE expert, not the position of the CASE Foundation.
