SAEDNEWS: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is urging EU member states to support proposals to suspend the trade part of the EU-Israel regime Association Agreement.
The European Commission has released an option paper proposing that the EU reimpose trade duties on Israel in response to its ongoing military assault on Gaza.
In an interview with Euronews, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas confirmed that the strategy could involve suspending trade-related provisions within the Israel-EU Association Agreement.
“Israel is one of our biggest trading partners,” Kallas said. “In 2024, EU-Israel trade totaled €42.6 billion, of which 37% received preferential treatment. Any suspension of these provisions would carry a high economic cost for Israel.”
However, the move still depends on approval from EU member states, many of whom have repeatedly blocked sanctions against Israel due to voting thresholds. Countries including Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, and Bulgaria have prevented EU action despite Israeli breaches of international law, including violations of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
The proposal signals a growing EU debate over holding Israel accountable economically, weighing both human rights concerns and strategic trade interests.
