The situation in Gaza is one of many issues being discussed by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (The Moderate Party) and his colleagues during Thursday's EU meeting.
There are calls from several quarters for tougher measures against Israel.
I will push for the EU to immediately pause the association agreement with Israel. There is no sense in us introducing 18 sanction packages against Russia for the attack on Ukraine, but not being able to pause the agreement with Israel, says Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on his way into the meeting.
Want proposals
EU Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas noted on Monday that Israel, through its actions in Gaza, has breached the rules in the agreement to act with respect for human rights.
So far, however, she does not want to propose either a pause or a termination of the agreement, which regulates the EU's and Israel's political and economic cooperation. Instead, Kallas will discuss the issue with Israel, in the hope of putting pressure on the country to open up for more humanitarian aid to Gaza.
I hope it really yields results. If it doesn't, then we must consider what further measures we can take, and I expect proposals on that already at the July meeting (for the EU's foreign ministers on July 15), said Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (The Moderate Party) at a press conference during the NATO summit in The Hague earlier in the week.
"Should have done more"
Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob is clear that his country is willing to proceed on its own against Israel if the EU cannot agree on tougher measures.
Unfortunately, some important member states put their own interests first, instead of the Palestinians' human rights. We should have done much more earlier – but it's never too late, says Golob in Brussels.
However, no decision was made at the EU summit, only an appeal to the foreign ministers to "continue the discussions on a follow-up" ahead of the July meeting.
Wiktor Nummelin/TT
Maria Davidsson/TT
Facts: EU summit in Brussels
TT
The EU countries' heads of state and government have at their summit in Brussels on Thursday agreed to ask the EU Commission and the EU's foreign minister to develop a plan by October on how to implement promised defense investments.
Regarding the Middle East, the summit once again calls for an "immediate ceasefire in Gaza and unconditional release of all hostages". Israel is also urged to lift its blockade of Gaza and allow immediate aid.
In the evening, the meeting continues with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj speaking via video link, after which the heads of state and government will also discuss economy, trade, and international relations.
