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The European Commission has unveiled plans to restrict trade with Israel and impose sanctions on extremist ministers in its government, which – if adopted – would be the EU’s toughest response to the war in Gaza.<\/p>\n
The plans, trailed by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last week, would suspend trade-related provisions of the EU\u2013Israel Association Agreement.<\/p>\n
This would strip Israeli goods of privileged access to European markets, with tariffs imposed on billions of euros of exports – particularly agricultural produce like dates and citrus fruit.<\/p>\n
But despite the forceful language, the measures appear unlikely to pass and have been dismissed by Israel as “morally and politically distorted”.<\/p>\n
Trade restrictions require approval by a qualified majority of member states, while sanctions on individuals demand unanimity.<\/p>\n
Because of the objection of key members, including Germany and Italy, and Ireland and Spain calling for far tougher action, adoption looks unlikely.<\/p>\n
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas acknowledged the challenge in the European Council, telling reporters: “Political lines are very much in the place where they have been so far.”<\/p>\n
She said the package also targeted “Hamas terrorists”, unnamed “extremist ministers” in the Israeli government and “violent settlers and entities supporting the impunity going on in the West Bank”.<\/p>\n
The EU is Israel’s number one trading partner, accounting for 32% of its trade in goods in 2024, worth \u20ac42.6bn (\u00a335.8bn). Yet the economic impact of ending tariff preferences would be limited. Trade commissioner Maro\u0161 \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d estimated the effect at just \u20ac227m a year.<\/p>\n
The only measure that takes immediate effect is the suspension of bilateral support to the Israeli government. But this too is largely symbolic with a mere \u20ac9.4m out of \u20ac14m allocated for 2020\u201324 \u2013 and does not require approval from member states.<\/p>\n
Mediterranean Commissioner Dubravka \u0160uica stressed that funding for programmes tackling antisemitism and supporting civil society would not be affected.<\/p>\n
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar dismissed the Commission’s proposals as “morally and politically distorted”, warning on X that actions against Israel would damage Europe’s own interests and vowing that any steps taken against his country would be answered “in kind.”<\/p>\n
It’s not immediately clear when the measures will be voted on by members.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n