Brussels / PNN /

 On Tuesday, a European Citizens’ Initiative calling for the suspension of the EU-Israel partnership agreement was launched at the European Commission, according to a statement from the Commission.

The organizers, including former Member of the European Parliament Malin Björk, said they submitted the request under the EU’s citizen initiative mechanism, which allows citizens to address the Commission on issues within its competence.

They noted that official EU reports confirm Israel’s responsibility for killing and injuring civilians, widespread displacement, and the systematic destruction of medical facilities in Gaza, “without any European sanctions being imposed.”

The organizers added that Israel has blocked humanitarian aid to Gaza, “potentially amounting to the use of famine as a weapon of war,” constituting a breach of its international obligations.

They emphasized that the European Union is Israel’s largest trading partner, with trade in goods between the two reaching €42.6 billion in 2024.

The initiative organizers argued that continuing the partnership agreement contradicts EU principles and human rights standards, stating: “EU citizens cannot accept an agreement that contributes to legitimizing and funding a state committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

They called on the Commission to submit a formal proposal to the Council of the European Union to suspend the entire agreement.

They also urged the EU to use “all legal, diplomatic, and economic tools” to pressure Israel to stop human rights violations, uphold international law, and alleviate the suffering of Palestinians.

The initiative is organized by European political figures from seven countries, including Portuguese Left Bloc leader Mariana Mortágua, Danish MP Billy Dragsted, Manuel Bombard of France Insoumise, and Swedish Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar.

Other participants include former Spanish Minister of Social Rights Ione Belarra, Basque coalition coordinator Arnaldo Otegi, co-chair of Poland’s Razem party Aleksandra Owca, and Finnish Left Alliance leader Merja Kyllönen.

The European Commission confirmed that the request has been officially registered, allowing the collection of supporting signatures for the initiative to begin.

How does the European Citizens’ Initiative work?

The mechanism allows EU citizens to request official action from the Commission. It requires a group of at least seven organizers from seven different EU countries.

For this initiative, the organizers come from Portugal, Denmark, France, Sweden, Spain, Poland, and Finland.

Once registered, the signature collection process begins, requiring support from at least one million EU citizens, with a minimum threshold in seven EU countries.

National authorities then verify the signatures before the initiative is submitted to the Commission for evaluation within six months. The initiative does not oblige the Commission to accept or implement the request.