ISDS Case Map
Israel
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and 59 other organisations are calling on the European Union to suspend its Association Agreement with Israel in response to the unprecedented number of journalists killed.
Israel responded to the EU’s request to convene an Association Council. But not only on human rights
Israel “is willing to consider” the invitation and “wants to negotiate the agenda,” a senior EU official confirms. But the distance between the parties on the agenda persists.
The EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell announced on Wednesday that he has formally invited the Israeli foreign minister to an ad hoc EU-Israel Association Council meeting.
Amid growing calls for economic sanctions against Israel in view of the worsening humanitarian toll of its military operations in Gaza, EU trade ministers briefly discussed the issue but remained far from deciding on actual steps.
European Union foreign ministers agreed to call for an Association Council with Israel to discuss the country's compliance with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel trade deal, also known as the Association Agreement.
The plan, would be submitted to the cabinet for approval, in retaliation for Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s decision to halt exports to Israel.
Turkey and Israel have a free trade agreement that has been in effect since 1997.
Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter says her country will lead a "re-evaluation" of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which forms the basis of trade between the bloc and Israel.
"Europe is the main trading partner—which accounts I think for 30% of Israel's trade—so it has a huge power and it should use that power," said UN expert Francesca Albanese.
