Amnesty International has strongly criticised the European Union after it failed to call for a vote to suspend the EU–Israel Association Agreement or agree on any concrete measures during the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg. Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns, described the decision as a moral failure that reflects disregard for civilian lives in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Lebanon.
The statement highlighted that widespread calls from more than one million European citizens, over 75 NGOs, nearly 400 former diplomats, UN experts, and several EU member states including Belgium, Ireland, Slovenia, and Spain had urged the suspension of the agreement. Despite this, the proposal was blocked, with Germany and Italy reportedly playing a key role in preventing action.
Amnesty International noted that the EU had previously found Israel’s actions in violation of the agreement’s human rights clause, yet no enforcement steps have followed. The organisation argued that continued inaction has enabled ongoing violations of international law, including the situation in Gaza, the wider Occupied Palestinian Territory, and Lebanon, where civilian casualties and displacement continue amid ongoing conflict.
The statement further warned that repeated failure to act undermines the EU’s credibility and contributes to a cycle of impunity. It urged EU member states to move beyond stalled collective decision-making and take unilateral steps to suspend cooperation with Israel in areas that may contribute to human rights violations, including trade linked to illegal settlements.
Amnesty International also called for stronger measures such as banning trade with settlements in occupied territories, a position already supported by several EU countries. It emphasised that delaying action only deepens violations and increases civilian suffering, and launched a campaign urging Germany and Italy to support suspension of the agreement.
