EU Rethinks Trade Agreement with Israel Following Sweden's Shift
The EU considers freezing its trade agreement with Israel, influenced by Sweden's recent policy shift.
Key Points
- • Sweden and the Netherlands propose to freeze EU-Israel trade agreement.
- • Ulf Kristersson emphasizes the need for economic pressure on Israel for humanitarian aid.
- • Jimmie Åkesson criticizes the government's stance, calling it a failure.
- • A qualified majority of EU countries is required to implement the freeze.
The European Union is witnessing a significant shift in its trade policy towards Israel, largely influenced by a recent proposal from Sweden and the Netherlands to freeze the trade agreement. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has argued that increased economic pressure on Israel is necessary to ensure unhindered humanitarian aid to Gaza amidst the ongoing conflict. This proposal marks a pivotal moment in EU politics, as noted by Martin Konecny, an expert on EU-Israel relations, who mentioned that this shift might garner support from at least half of the EU member states.
The proposal suggests freezing the trade chapter of the EU's association agreement with Israel, which has considerable economic implications; Israel's annual trade with the EU stands at nearly 500 billion kronor. If enacted, the freeze would mean Israel loses its advantageous trade terms with the EU, potentially harming its economy significantly. To successfully freeze the trade agreement, a qualified majority is required—at least 15 EU countries representing 65% of the EU's population—which underscores the importance of Germany or Italy's support for the proposal to advance.
In response to the proposed changes, Jimmie Åkesson, leader of the Sweden Democrats, has harshly criticized the government’s approach, calling it "a complete failure". He contends that the Swedish stance is dangerously ambiguous and inadvertently supports propaganda efforts by Islamist groups, attributing the ongoing Gaza conflict primarily to Hamas. Åkesson's critique follows controversy over a caricature of Prime Minister Kristersson, intended to highlight the government’s perceived passive stance.
This evolving situation reflects deeper divides within EU member states, with nations like Spain, Ireland, and Belgium leaning towards a pro-Palestinian stance, whereas others, notably Germany, Italy, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, tend to support Israel. In current negotiations, Hungary is obstructing EU sanctions against Israeli settlers, complicating consensus on broader issues.
As of now, the landscape in EU-Israeli relations remains fluid, with the potential for further debates and discussions among member states as the proposal unfolds.