European Federation of Journalists

Gaza: EFJ and partners urge EU member states to suspend EU-Israel Association Agreement

At least 223 Palestinian journalists have been killed during the war in Gaza. On 23 September, the Union of Journalists of Slovenia (SNS), together with the Union of Journalists of RTV Slovenia, supported journalists in Palestine by organizing Solidarity Days. Picture credit: SNS.

On 30 September, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and 15 partner organizations wrote to leaders in Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic to call for a full or partial suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

The agreement sets out the EU’s legal and institutional framework for political dialogue and economic cooperation with Israel.

The European Commission recently proposed suspending “certain trade-related provisions” because of “a breach of essential elements relating to [the] respect for human rights and democratic principles.”

Now EU member states must decide whether to go ahead. However, some EU member states, including Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic have been opposed.

On 24 September, following a meeting with the Palestinian Ambassador to the EU in Brussels, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the European Trade Union Federations (including the EFJ) called on the European Union and its member states to impose to Israel immediate trade sanctions, including the full suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

Read the full letters to Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic.