Spain to propose suspension of EU-Israel association agreement

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that Spain will formally propose the full suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement at an upcoming meeting. The move is based on the claim that the Israeli government is in violation of international law. The EU-Israel association agreement, which has been in force since 2000, includes a human rights clause. Spain first challenged the agreement in February 2024, when Sanchez and the then-Prime Minister of Ireland requested a review of Israel's human rights obligations regarding the war in Gaza. Tensions have escalated following the conflict in Lebanon, leading to a firmer stance from Madrid. On Friday, Ireland, Slovenia, and Spain collectively requested that the agreement be reviewed at the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. The proposal is scheduled to be presented this Tuesday.