EU Must Adopt More Assertive Posture Against Israel Over Gaza Violations: Ex-foreign Policy Chief
Josep Borrell argues that the bloc has a 'duty' to intervene in the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.
The European Union (EU) must adopt a more assertive stance against Israel over its violations of international law in Gaza, according to Josep Borrell, the bloc's former foreign policy chief.
In an article for Foreign Affairs magazine, Borrell contends that the EU has a 'duty' to intervene in the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the Palestinian enclave.
Rather than relying on the United States (US) to end the conflict, Europe must develop its own plan of action.
The article was co-authored with Kalypso Nicolaidis, a Franco-Greek academic who has advised the EU.
Borrell's successor, Kaja Kallas, has also expressed concern over Israel's potential human rights breaches during its war on Gaza.
However, she emphasized the need for member states to agree upon concrete actions in response.
Last month, 17 EU countries triggered a review of the bloc's association agreement with Israel - which covers trade and other cooperation - as a protest against Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Borrell has accused Tel Aviv of conducting 'the largest ethnic-cleansing operation since the end of the Second World War.' The EU's inconsistent response to the crisis can be partly attributed to the reluctance of certain countries, including Germany, Hungary, and Austria, to take action against Israel due to historical reasons.
Nevertheless, Borrell and Nicolaidis argue that other EU member states may still be able to take action without requiring a continent-wide consensus, utilizing the bloc's financial leverage or European programs for Israel such as Erasmus.
Furthermore, they propose invoking Article 20 of the EU treaty, which would allow at least nine member states to utilize certain foreign policy tools not related to defense.
According to Borrell and Nicolaidis, the EU has been rendered ineffective in applying pressure due to disunity, and should act as a powerful mediator in the Middle East.
They argue that some EU leaders have cautiously supported investigations by the International Criminal Court (ICC), while others such as Austria and Germany have refused to implement arrest warrants against Israeli officials.
Additionally, internal disagreements among EU member states have prevented the bloc from revisiting its trade policy with Israel, leading it to remain the largest trading partner for Israel.
Consequently, the EU has been relegated to the sidelines in ceasefire diplomacy overshadowed by US and regional actors such as Egypt and Qatar.
Borrell and Nicolaidis raise the question of whether the EU should also act as a mediator.
In an article for Foreign Affairs magazine, Borrell contends that the EU has a 'duty' to intervene in the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the Palestinian enclave.
Rather than relying on the United States (US) to end the conflict, Europe must develop its own plan of action.
The article was co-authored with Kalypso Nicolaidis, a Franco-Greek academic who has advised the EU.
Borrell's successor, Kaja Kallas, has also expressed concern over Israel's potential human rights breaches during its war on Gaza.
However, she emphasized the need for member states to agree upon concrete actions in response.
Last month, 17 EU countries triggered a review of the bloc's association agreement with Israel - which covers trade and other cooperation - as a protest against Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Borrell has accused Tel Aviv of conducting 'the largest ethnic-cleansing operation since the end of the Second World War.' The EU's inconsistent response to the crisis can be partly attributed to the reluctance of certain countries, including Germany, Hungary, and Austria, to take action against Israel due to historical reasons.
Nevertheless, Borrell and Nicolaidis argue that other EU member states may still be able to take action without requiring a continent-wide consensus, utilizing the bloc's financial leverage or European programs for Israel such as Erasmus.
Furthermore, they propose invoking Article 20 of the EU treaty, which would allow at least nine member states to utilize certain foreign policy tools not related to defense.
According to Borrell and Nicolaidis, the EU has been rendered ineffective in applying pressure due to disunity, and should act as a powerful mediator in the Middle East.
They argue that some EU leaders have cautiously supported investigations by the International Criminal Court (ICC), while others such as Austria and Germany have refused to implement arrest warrants against Israeli officials.
Additionally, internal disagreements among EU member states have prevented the bloc from revisiting its trade policy with Israel, leading it to remain the largest trading partner for Israel.
Consequently, the EU has been relegated to the sidelines in ceasefire diplomacy overshadowed by US and regional actors such as Egypt and Qatar.
Borrell and Nicolaidis raise the question of whether the EU should also act as a mediator.
