460 European Leaders Urge EU to Take a Strong Stance Against Israel

Jun 11 (Jowhar) - With ongoing conflict in Gaza and tensions in the West Bank, a broad coalition of experienced European political leaders is urging the European Union to stop 'sitting on the sidelines' and take strong measures against Israel.

A statement signed by more than 460 former prime ministers, European commissioners, government ministers, ambassadors, Members of Parliament, and senior EU officials, the signatories are pressing Brussels to respond to what they describe as Israel's escalating military actions in Gaza and the West Bank.

Notable Irish signatories include former taoiseach Leo Varadkar, former tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, and former President of the European Parliament Pat Cox.

The list also includes former prime ministers Massimo d'Alema and Romano Prodi from Italy, Robert Golob from Slovenia, and Stefan Löfven from Sweden.

This intervention comes ahead of the upcoming EU foreign ministers' meeting in Luxembourg next week, followed by an EU summit in Brussels. Both gatherings are expected to weigh proposals for the EU to reduce trade with Israel and to suspend provisions of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

The editor stated: 'The EU cannot stand by.'

'It must urgently implement recommendations such as those consistently made since July 2025 in a series of public statements issued by a group of now over 460 former European ministers, ambassadors, and senior officials.'

It added: 'In particular, the EU must halt preferential trade access for Israel under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which affects one-third of Israel's total trade in goods with the world.'

'This requires leadership from the European Commission and the European External Action Service, which, according to past practice, should propose that these measures be adopted by a qualified majority vote of EU member states.'