EU member states have a legal obligation to sanction Israel, says Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign affairs chief from 2019-2024. “Those who do not act to stop this genocide and these violations of international law, even though they have the power to do so, are complicit in them,” he writes.
The 2000 association agreement between Israel and the EU provides numerous benefits to Israelis, including zero tariff trade, visa-free entry, and access to European financing platforms. But it is contingent on Israel’s respect for international law and human rights. “Since the EU foreign affairs ministers found that Israel was not respecting these rights, EU leaders now have a legal obligation to suspend the agreement,” says Borrell. “Failure to do so would also be a serious violation of the association agreement with Israel.”
