17.09.2025 21:45
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, announced that the European Commission has proposed suspending trade privileges for Israel and imposing sanctions on radical ministers in the Israeli government and violence-supporting settlers.
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The High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, along with Maros Sefcovic, the EU Commissioner for Trade, and Dubravka Suica, the EU Commissioner responsible for the Mediterranean, held a press conference following the commission meeting held today.
"PUTIN WILL GO FURTHER IF HE SENSES ANY WEAKNESS" Before the briefing regarding the meeting, Kallas addressed the war in Ukraine and the preparations for the 19th sanctions package against Russia, stating, "The violations involving drones (UAVs) against Poland and Romania are signs that this conflict has entered a more dangerous phase. Russia is testing the West. Putin will go further if he senses any weakness; he wants to test us. Europe must respond decisively. As the Commission President stated yesterday, the Commission will soon present the 19th sanctions package."
"OUR AIM IS NOT TO PUNISH ISRAEL, BUT TO IMPROVE THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN GAZA" Kallas expressed that they also discussed the war in Gaza and the Israeli government's ground operation against the city of Gaza during today's commission meeting, saying, "Israel's operation against the city of Gaza is a new escalation of the conflict and will further deepen the humanitarian crisis." High Representative Kallas announced that she presented a strong sanctions package targeting Hamas, extremist ministers in the Israeli government, violent settlers, and organizations supporting impunity in the West Bank to the EU Commission.
Kaja Kallas also announced that a proposal for partially suspending trade privileges for Israel was accepted by the commission members during the meeting and will be submitted for approval by member states. Kallas stated, "I want to be very clear. Our aim is not to punish Israel, but to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. All member states agree that the situation in Gaza is unsustainable. The war must end, the suffering must cease, and the hostages must be released immediately. We must use all the tools at our disposal to achieve this outcome. At the same time, we must not overlook the dangerous developments in the West Bank that undermine the two-state solution."
"THE WINDOW FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO IRAN'S NUCLEAR ISSUE IS CLOSING VERY QUICKLY" Addressing the issue of returning to sanctions against Iran, Kallas stated, "We had a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Arakchi. The window for finding a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear issue is closing very quickly. There are only weeks left until international sanctions are reimposed. Iran must take credible steps to meet the demands of France, the UK, and Germany. This requires full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the immediate opening of all nuclear facilities for inspection without delay."
"WHY WAS SUCH A PROPOSAL NOT MADE LAST YEAR?" In response to a question during the press conference about why such a proposal against Israel was not made last year, High Representative Kaja Kallas said, "We all listened to the speech of the Commission President where he raised these points (State of the Union). I think this shows how much the situation has changed. We see the E1 settlements, we see military operations against the city of Gaza. All these developments bring more suffering to the people. That is why we are having this discussion today."
"PUBLIC OPINION IN MEMBER STATES HAS REALLY CHANGED DUE TO THE SUFFERING IN GAZA" In response to a question about whether the proposal would be accepted by EU member countries, Kallas said, "Sanctions require unanimity. Trade proposals fall under qualified majority voting. You know very well how the situation is in the Council. We see that public opinion in member states has really changed due to the suffering in Gaza. People want this suffering to end."
"GOODS IMPORTED FROM ISRAEL WILL LOSE PREFERENTIAL ACCESS TO THE EU MARKET" During the press conference, Maros Sefcovic, the EU Commissioner for Trade, explained the details of the proposal for commercial sanctions against Israel, emphasizing that the proposal relates to respect for human rights and democratic principles in Articles 2 and 79 of the Partnership Agreement with Israel. Sefcovic stated that the proposal covers the preferential customs duties granted to Israel and the free movement of goods. He said, "Practically, this means that imports from Israel to the EU will lose their preferential access to the EU market, and such goods will be subject to customs duties applied to other third countries with which the EU does not have a free trade agreement."
EU Commissioner Sefcovic expressed, "We regret having to take this step. However, in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, we see this step as both appropriate and proportional. The Council will decide on this measure by qualified majority. The European Parliament will be duly informed in accordance with the procedure." Sefcovic emphasized that the European Union is Israel's number one trading partner and called on Israel to take steps to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
"THE CONTEXT OF THIS DECISION IS EXTREMELY POLITICAL" Maros Sefcovic responded to a question about how the impact of the proposed measure would be limited to 227 million euros based on 2024 trade figures and how this could be expected to change Israel's approach, stating, "Your figures are correct. However, this is not just about trade and numbers. The entire context of this decision is extremely political."
In response to questions about why no steps have been taken regarding arms trade with Israel and the purchase of goods from illegal Israeli settlements, he replied that only issues related to the Partnership Agreement were on the meeting agenda.
BILATERAL SUPPORT TO THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN SUSPENDED During the press conference, Dubravka Suica, the EU Commissioner responsible for the Mediterranean, announced that bilateral support to the Israeli government has been suspended.
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Suica announced that 9.4 million euros of the 14 million euros provided to the Israeli government under development and cooperation projects has been frozen, as it has not yet been formalized into a contract. "There will be no progress in jointly determining new activities or signing a new contract. This is a decision that the Commission can independently make in extraordinary circumstances, as it currently stands. It can be reversed if the conditions on the ground change," he said. Suica stated that support for the Palestinian Authority and Israeli civil society organizations will not be affected by this decision.