The European Union should adopt a firmer and more principled stance on sanctions against Israel, Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said on Tuesday, as divisions
Speaking ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, Prévot warned that the bloc’s hesitation risks undermining its own founding values on human rights and international law.
“We must do everything to toughen the tone of the sanctions,” Prévot said, pointing to escalating violence in the region and growing concern over Israel’s policies in the occupied territories and Gaza.
EU split over sanctions and Association Agreement
Last year, the European Commission proposed a package of measures targeting Israel, including a partial suspension of the EU–Israel Association Agreement. The Commission argued that certain Israeli actions in Gaza could constitute a breach of Article 2 of the agreement, which requires respect for human rights and democratic principles.
However, the initiative has stalled due to a lack of qualified majority among EU member states. Countries including Germany and Italy have opposed suspension, reflecting deep political divisions within the bloc.
A full suspension of the agreement—covering both trade and political cooperation—would require unanimity, making it even less likely. Spain has pushed for such a step, while Germany’s foreign ministry has described suspension as “inappropriate.”
Belgium, meanwhile, has advocated a more limited but politically meaningful partial suspension. “We have been pressing for months,” Prévot said, acknowledging that consensus for a full suspension remains unrealistic.
Broader tensions and renewed calls for action
Calls for renewed pressure have intensified following Israel’s military actions in Lebanon and ongoing settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. Several EU states are now revisiting whether parts of the Association Agreement should return to the negotiating table.
Prévot described Israeli settlement expansion, rising settler violence, and recent domestic legislative changes—including debate over the death penalty—as “serious attacks on the principles and values of the European Union.”
The European Commission has also proposed sanctions targeting violent settlers and extremist political figures. But these measures, like broader sanctions, require unanimity and are currently blocked by at least one member state, Hungary.
Diplomats in Brussels are watching political developments in several EU countries closely, hoping potential leadership shifts could unlock progress.
Diplomatic contacts and internal EU divisions
On Monday, Prévot met Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa during a meeting in Brussels of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-organised with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, however, struck a more cautious tone, acknowledging deep disagreements within both the EU and Belgium itself over sanctions policy. “That division also exists in our country,” he noted, referring to the difficulty of building a unified national position.
EU–Israel relations in context
Relations between the EU and Israel are governed by the 2000 EU–Israel Association Agreement, which underpins trade, political dialogue, and scientific cooperation. The EU is one of Israel’s largest trading partners and a key source of research collaboration through programs such as Horizon Europe.
At the same time, the relationship has become increasingly strained due to recurring conflicts in Gaza, settlement expansion, and long-standing disputes over Palestinian statehood. While economic ties remain strong, political dialogue has grown more contentious, especially since the escalation of violence in recent years.
Despite internal divisions, EU officials continue to stress the importance of maintaining channels of engagement with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority, while balancing legal obligations, geopolitical interests, and human rights commitments. Photo by Gov.pl, Wikimedia commons.