Brussels: UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, has encouraged the EU to suspend an association agreement with Israel, citing the bloc's legal obligation under international law. This call comes as EU foreign ministers convene in Brussels to discuss the status of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, among other matters.
According to Anadolu Agency, Albanese made a series of statements on X, urging the bloc to align its actions with international body rulings. She emphasized that a "historic" meeting would lead to the end of the genocide, the dismantling of Israel's occupation and apartheid, and the beginning of justice and accountability. Albanese criticized recent EU characterizations of diplomatic meetings with Israel, stating that the real milestone would be concrete action against violations of international law.
Albanese underscored that the EU is legally obliged to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement. She noted that debating whether Israel is violating Article 2, which commits parties to respect human rights, is unnecessary and inappropriate, referencing rulings by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and multiple UN bodies.
She highlighted new research indicating that the EU is not only Israel's largest trading partner but also its top investment partner, nearly double the size of the US. Albanese warned that maintaining trade with an economy tied to occupation, apartheid, and genocide constitutes complicity.
Between 2023 and 2024, EU exports to Israel increased by £1.2 billion ($1.4 million), prompting Albanese to urge the bloc to cease endorsing the collapse of the international legal order. She stated that the EU is at a moral and legal crossroads: to deepen the existing situation or to uphold the values the Union claims to represent.
EU foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels to consider possible actions against Israel following a review of the association agreement initiated in May after calls from member states and civil society. While full suspension requires unanimity, partial suspension of certain sections, such as trade, research, or political dialogue, is possible with a qualified majority. Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia have expressed support for suspension, whereas countries like Germany, Austria, Czechia, and Hungary have shown opposition.