European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined a series of proposed measures targeting specific actions and individuals during her address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday. Responding to events in Gaza, she stated that the current situation is unacceptable and called for increased European action.
While noting that several member states have already implemented independent measures, von der Leyen expressed concern over the stalled progress regarding the suspension of elements of the Horizon financing program, highlighting the need to overcome this blockage and avoid inaction.
To move forward, the Commission will propose a package of measures, including the suspension of bilateral support to Israel, halting payments in certain areas without impacting work with Israeli civil society. Furthermore, the Commission intends to propose sanctions against extremist Israeli ministers and violent settlers and a partial suspension of the association agreement regarding trade matters.
Acknowledging the difficulty in achieving consensus, von der Leyen stated that any measures would likely draw criticism from different quarters. She emphasized the shared responsibility of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission to address the situation.
Looking ahead, next month the Commission will establish a donor group for Palestine, including a dedicated instrument for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. This initiative will be an international effort involving regional partners and will build upon the momentum of the conference organized by France and Saudi Arabia in New York.
