Amnesty International has called on European Union (EU) member states to take unilateral action after the bloc failed to suspend its Association Agreement with Israel during the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 13 July.
In a statement, Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns, criticized what the organization described as the continued reluctance of a majority of EU member states to suspend the agreement. Amnesty argued that countries committed to upholding international law should take stronger measures if collective EU action remains blocked.
The organization highlighted Ireland’s current role as holder of the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, urging the country to use its position to promote greater accountability and encourage member states to fulfill their obligations under international law. Amnesty also pointed to Ireland’s historical advocacy on international human rights issues and its recent efforts regarding imports from Israeli settlements.
Amnesty International called on individual EU member states to suspend forms of cooperation that it believes could contribute to violations of international law. The organization specifically urged governments to impose comprehensive arms and surveillance equipment export embargoes and to prohibit trade and investment involving Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The statement also reiterated Amnesty International’s allegations regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and Lebanon, arguing that the EU has not imposed meaningful consequences in response. Israel has repeatedly rejected accusations of genocide and maintains that its military operations are conducted in accordance with international law and are aimed at combating armed groups following the October 2023 attacks.
According to Amnesty International, the European Commission recently presented options for restricting trade with Israeli settlements, but no measures were adopted during the Foreign Affairs Council meeting. The organization noted that it has raised concerns about Israel’s compliance with the EU-Israel Association Agreement for more than two decades and referred to the International Court of Justice’s 2024 advisory opinion concerning Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories.
The EU-Israel Association Agreement governs political dialogue and economic cooperation between the European Union and Israel. Discussions over the agreement continue as EU institutions and member states debate their legal and political responses to developments in the region.
