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Latest News

MEPs urge the EU to strengthen its security

MEPs urge the EU to strengthen its security MEPs urge the EU to strengthen its security
  The European Parliament is calling for urgent action to strengthen the EU’s security, warning that "business as usual" is no longer...
Read More...

German politicians criticize Swiss defence spending as inadequate

German politicians criticize Swiss defence spending as inadequate German politicians criticize Swiss defence spending as inadequate
  Switzerland plans to increase its defence budget to 1% of GDP by 2032, with spending set to double to CHF 4 billion by 2028. However,...
Read More...

European Commission initiates strategic dialogue on steel sector's future

European Commission initiates strategic dialogue on steel sector's future European Commission initiates strategic dialogue on steel sector's future
  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has launched a strategic dialogue focused on the future of the European steel sector,...
Read More...

Belgian federal parliament blocks Chinese AI model DeepSeek

Belgian federal parliament blocks Chinese AI model DeepSeek Belgian federal parliament blocks Chinese AI model DeepSeek
  The Belgian federal parliament has blocked access to the Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek, parliamentary services confirmed to Belga. The...
Read More...

European Commission unveils clean industrial deal in Antwerp

European Commission unveils clean industrial deal in Antwerp European Commission unveils clean industrial deal in Antwerp
  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has presented a new initiative aimed at strengthening European industry while ensuring...
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EU welcomes suspension of restrictive measures on key Syrian economic sectors

EU welcomes suspension of restrictive measures on key Syrian economic sectors EU welcomes suspension of restrictive measures on key Syrian economic sectors
  The European Commission has welcomed the Council's decision to suspend several restrictive measures on Syria, aiming to facilitate economic...
Read More...

European Parliament to display EU and Ukrainian flags in solidarity with Ukraine

European Parliament to display EU and Ukrainian flags in solidarity with Ukraine European Parliament to display EU and Ukrainian flags in solidarity with Ukraine
  The European Parliament will fly the EU and Ukrainian flags at its three main locations from Sunday, February 23, to Tuesday, February...
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German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Thursday dismissed a proposal to suspend the European Union's political dialogue with Israel. The proposal, introduced earlier

this week by Josep Borrell, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Policy, aimed to address concerns over Israel's actions in Gaza.

Borrell's suggestion was intended as a warning that Israel may have crossed a "red line" for Europe with its conduct in the ongoing conflict. “Reports from independent international agencies suggest that Israel is violating human rights and international humanitarian law,” a diplomatic source told Belga.

EU-Israel Relations Under Scrutiny

The EU and Israel have maintained regular political dialogue as part of the EU-Israel Association Treaty, effective since 2000. This treaty explicitly states that the relationship is founded on respect for human rights and democratic principles.

Limited Support for Proposal

The proposal to suspend political dialogue will be discussed at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday. However, diplomats note that suspending dialogue would not mean terminating the association treaty itself. Despite this, the proposal faces slim chances of approval.

“We always advocate for keeping channels of dialogue open, including with Israel,” Baerbock stated on Thursday. Her ministry emphasized that political dialogue serves as an essential platform for addressing issues such as adherence to international humanitarian law and facilitating humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Opposition from Key EU Members

For Borrell's proposal to pass, it requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states. Germany's opposition appears to make this outcome unlikely. Additionally, Israel enjoys strong support from Hungary and the Czech Republic, two of its closest European allies.

Despite the low likelihood of adoption, EU sources suggest that even initiating this discussion sends a significant political signal.

A Final Act for Borrell

This proposal may mark Borrell's last significant move as an EU official. Once the new European Commission is approved, he is set to be succeeded by former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. Foto: Gerd Seidel, Creative Commons CC-by-sa-3.0 de, Wikimedia commons.

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