The EU has learned the decision to refuse and revoke entry visas for members of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization ahead of their participation in the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.
In light of the existing headquarters agreements between the UN and its host state, we urge for this decision to be reconsidered.
(August 30, 2025)
Q. Can you point to one concrete step regarding Israel that the countries actually agreed on today. After today‘s meeting, do you expect a more unified EU putting pressure on Israel and taking concrete steps?
First, we had an informal Council, so that means that we actually do not adopt decisions here, but we really have the political debates on where is the room. So, no decisions today.
(August 9, 2025)
The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom, and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, strongly reject the decision of the Israeli Security Cabinet on 8th August to launch an additional large-scale military operation in Gaza. It will aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages, and further risk the mass displacement of civilians. The plans that the Government of Israel has announced risk violating international humanitarian law. Any attempts at annexation or of settlement extension violate international law.
We urge the parties and the international community to make all efforts to finally bring this terrible conflict to an end now, through an immediate and permanent ceasefire that enables the provision of a massive, immediate and unimpeded humanitarian assistance, as the worst-case scenario of a famine is unfolding in Gaza. Hamas must release all hostages without further delay or precondition and must ensure they are humanely treated and not subject to cruelty and humiliation.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic. We call on the Government of Israel to urgently find solutions to amend its recent registration system of international humanitarian organisations, to ensure these vital actors of humanitarian aid can continue their essential work again in line with humanitarian principles to reach the civilians in need in Gaza. Their exclusion would be an egregious signal.
We are united in our commitment to the implementation of a negotiated two-state solution as the only way to guarantee that both Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace, security, and dignity. A political resolution based on a negotiated two-state solution requires the total demilitarisation of Hamas and its complete exclusion from any form of governance in the Gaza Strip, where the Palestinian Authority must have a central role.
(August 9, 2025)
Joint statement warns Netanyahu’s new ground offensive will worsen ‘catastrophic humanitarian situation’ as international outrage grows
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, has warned that Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, calling it a threat to international security.
(June 18, 2025)
The foreign ministers of Germany, France and Britain plan to hold nuclear talks with their Iranian counterpart on Friday in Geneva, a German diplomatic source told Reuters.
The ministers will first meet with the European Union‘s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, at Germany‘s permanent mission in Geneva before holding a joint meeting with the Iranian foreign minister, the source said.
Dear President,
Honourable Members,
What was also clear from today’s meeting is that we will not let this new crisis overshadow what is happening in Gaza.
We are now 20 months into a conflict triggered by the horrific attacks of Hamas.
Israel has a right to defend itself. And Hamas should immediately release the remaining hostages. But Israel’s use of force in Gaza, the continuing deaths of civilians, and the targeting of civilian infrastructure go beyond self-defence.
Israel’s actions cannot be justified under humanitarian and international law.
At the last Foreign Affairs Council in May, it was clear that a majority of Member States were in favour of opening a review of Israel’s compliance with Article 2 of our Association Agreement.
Article 2 imposes binding obligations on the parties to observe human rights.
This review is now underway and I will present the outcome to the Foreign Ministers on Monday.
The EU is currently reviewing its Association Agreement with Israel, a deal governing trade and political relations, after a request from the majority of member countries. Kallas is due to report on the process of the review on Monday.
(…)
Some EU lawmakers reprimanded Kallas for not using the term “genocide” to describe what Israel has done in Gaza. “You’re refusing deliberately to use this term, Ms. Kallas,” The Left co-chair Manon Aubry said. “We should act, protect, sanction, and get away from your complicity because you are complicit.”
(May 8, 2025)
Ties between the EU and Israel — which are major trading partners — are governed by a so-called Association Agreement. It stipulates that their ties “shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles.”
The Dutch government has said that it intends to block the agreement pending an EU review into whether the Israel government is complying with the pact, which entered force in 2000. Kallas said the ministers would discuss this on May 20.
“It’s only natural for Israel to expect European support,” he said, according to The Times of Israel.
Saar framed Israel’s war as a global battle, lumping Iran, the Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah together as enemies of the West. “They attack us because we are nearby,” he claimed.
“But make no mistake, the war is against Western civilisation—against its values and its way of life.”
In a significant development, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced that the bloc‘s top diplomat for Syria will head to Damascus on Monday to initiate contact with the new Syrian government.
Q. [Inaudible… on the ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu and Galant] How do you look at this in Jordan? The same question also is addressed to Mister Borrell, how do you view this International Criminal Court (ICC) resolution? Do you believe that the European Union and the international community can implement this decision or resolution or not?
Thank you. As I said before, the tragedy in Gaza has to stop. Now, I will be very sober in my comment. It is not a political decision. It is a decision of a Court, of a Court of Justice, of the International Criminal Court. The decisions of the courts have to be respected and implemented. So, I take note of the decision of the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu, the former Minister of Defence Mister [Yoav] Gallant, and the Hamas’ leaders. This decision is a binding decision and all States, all States parties of the [Rome Statute of] Court, which include all members of the European Union, are bound to implement this court decision.
EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell reacted during a press conference on Thursday to the news about the issuance of an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country‘s former Defense Minister Yoav Galant.
He said the warrants issued by the Court are not political and the court‘s decision should be respected and implemented, Euronews reported.
“We know that there are tragic events in Gaza, huge civilian casualties, but we do not forget who started the current cycle of violence,” Sikorski said in Brussels. “And I can tell you that there was no agreement on the idea of suspending negotiations with Israel.”
Diplomats said the politicians who did not support Borrell‘s initiative at the meeting included foreign ministers from Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and the Netherlands.
(November 16, 2024)
What we see of the tragedy of Gaza is however only the tip of the iceberg since the strip has been sealed. There are hardly any journalists or international observers entering Gaza since more than one year. It is the longest information blackout ever imposed by a democratic state. In addition, there are reasons to believe that journalists have been targeted by Israeli Defence Forces. To this day more than 130 have been killed.
This pattern at play for too long in Gaza, is now being replicated elsewhere. In South Lebanon, some 30 villages have been obliterated – not as a result of heavy combat, but in a controlled way, posted on social media. In the West Bank, extremist settlers‘ violence is forcing many Palestinian farmers and herders off their land. Uprooted olive trees, killed or stolen livestock and torched vehicles, have become part of daily reality in many rural communities. Israeli airstrikes in Jenin and Tulkarem, the first in more than two decades, have added to the destruction of civilian infrastructure left behind by bulldozers earlier this year.
(November 14, 2024)
A political legacy on the part of the EU diplomacy chief, who has come to the end of his term, but one that is unlikely to be seized upon by the 27: for any amendment to the Association Agreement that governs EU-Israel relations, the rule of unanimity is required.
Watch as EU‘s Foreign Policy Chief reveals at the World Economic Forum that five EU members, including Spain, Ireland, Belgium, Slovenia, and Malta, may recognize Palestinian statehood by the end of May.
Last Thursday, over a hundred civilians were killed and many other wounded when desperately trying to get food from a convoy, many of them victims of the Israeli army fire during the ensuing stampede. The firing by Israeli soldiers against civilians trying to access foodstuff is unjustifiable.
We request an impartial international investigation on this tragic event allowing for a clear picture of the events and responsibilities. In any case, it is Israel‘s responsibility to comply with the rules of international law and to protect the distribution of humanitarian aid to civilian populations.
Many of the Palestinians killed or wounded in the chaos as they tried to get bags of flour from an aid convoy were hit by Israeli army fire, the European Union’s diplomatic service said Saturday, urging an international investigation.
(October 31, 2023)
European Union Defense Ministers disagree with those who say that Ukraine cannot win this war, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell said.
Li travelled to Kyiv via Warsaw, Poland, on Tuesday, and is expected to return to the Polish capital on Thursday, staying until Sunday.
On Wednesday, Li met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who said the talks focused on his country’s territorial integrity.
“Now we know for sure that the mission will operate in Poland, Germany and any other country willing to take up this responsibility,” Mr Rau said.
Last month, the EU Council agreed to set up the Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine). According to the European Council’s website, “the aim of the mission is to contribute to enhancing the military capability of Ukraine’s Armed Forces to effectively conduct military operations, in order to allow Ukraine to defend its territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, effectively exercise its sovereignty and protect civilians.”
Training will take place in Poland and Germany, according to Borrell, who noted that “there are a lot of countries willing to participate” in this mission.
(11.10.2022)
Borrell, a Spanish former foreign minister, who has a reputation for bluntness, lamented that the EU’s global diplomatic network was less informative than reading the papers. “Sometimes, I knew more of what was happening somewhere by reading the newspapers than reading your reports,” he said.
“I should be the best-informed guy in the world,” Borrell complained, instructing them to be more reactive to unfolding crises. “Behave as you would behave if you were an embassy: send a telegram, a cable, a mail – quickly. Quickly, please, react.”
(17.10.2022)
A wave of “suicide drone” attacks inundated Kyiv in recent days, killing an unknown number of Ukrainian civilians. Ukrainian and European Union officials believe the Russian strikes were carried out using Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones, though Iran denies any involvement or role in supplying such drones to Russia.
Amir Abdollahian said the decision was made after detailed and in-depth talks with Josep Borrell, the EU foreign policy chief.
“The talks to remove the sanctions imposed on Iran will be resumed soon,“ Amir Abdollahian said in a joint press conference with Borrell.
TEHRAN – European External Action Service (EEAS) Deputy Secretary General Enrique Mora, who has visited Tehran to attend the inauguration of Ebrahim Raisi as the new Iranian president, held talks on Wednesday with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who led the Iranian team in six rounds of nuclear talks in Vienna.
Mora has been leading the nuclear talks in Vienna between Iran, the European Union, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and the United States with the aim of reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, officially called the JCPOA.
Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, meets Aureliu Ciocoi, Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova, David Zalkaliani, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia and Dmytro Kuleba, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, on 24 June 2021, in Brussels.
“It’s one of the fastest negotiations ever between Iran and the Western states,” a European diplomat familiar with the talks told Haaretz.
“If in the past the Iranians submitted each interim agreement for the leadership’s approval in Tehran, a process that sometimes took several days, this time things are being done swiftly. Apparently the Iranian delegation has received wider latitude, but the American flexibility has undoubtedly also contributed a great deal.”
A face-to-face meeting between officials from the two countries over the nuclear agreement would be the first since late 2017, months before the Trump administration withdrew from the deal in May 2018.