Ireland's Tánaiste Simon Harris has welcomed the announcement today, Tuesday, May 20, that the European Commission will conduct a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
Enacted in June 2000, the Agreement dictates in part that relations between Israel and the EU will be "based on respect for human rights and democratic principles."
Ireland and Spain called for a review of the Agreement in February 2024, but failed to gain enough support.
However, at a meeting of the EU's Foreign Affairs Council on Tuesday, a majority of member states supported a review of the Agreement.
Harris said on Tuesday: "For quite a period of time, Ireland has worked with other like-minded countries to try to build a European coalition to call for the EU-Israel Association Agreement to be reviewed.
"Our association agreements at a European level contain human rights clauses, and they matter. They're not just there for padding, they're not just there to make agreements longer; they need to be enforced.
"For quite a time, it was a lonely place for Ireland - Ireland and Spain - calling for the EU to come together and review the Association Agreement.
"Today, finally, we have a majority of member states saying it is now time to review the Agreement.
"This is an important step forward.
"I've always believed while we must do everything we can domestically, that working at a European level is how we maximize the impact that is needed in the world to bring about a ceasefire, to end the killing, and to work towards a two-state solution.
"I now look forward to the European Union acting on this clear wish of majority of member states."
Today, a clear majority of EU Member States agreed on the need to send a strong signal to Israel to reverse course, to halt its military operations and to lift the blockade on lifesaving aid.
Ireland has been leading at an EU level to reach this point.
Now it’s time to act. pic.twitter.com/brWdv8UDFU
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) May 20, 2025
What is the EU-Israel Association Agreement?
The EU-Israel Association Agreement, which Ireland is party to, came into force in June 2000. It aims to provide an appropriate legal and institutional framework for political dialogue and economic cooperation between the EU and Israel.
According to the European Commission, total trade in goods between the EU and Israel in 2024 amounted to €42.6 billion. The EU is Israel’s biggest trading partner, accounting for 32% of Israel's total trade in goods with the world in 2024. Israel is the EU’s 31st largest trading partner, representing almost 0.8% of the EU’s total trade in goods with the world in 2024.
Article 2 of the EU‑Israel trade agreement states that relations between Israel and the EU will be "based on respect for human rights and democratic principles."
EU's Foreign Affairs Council to review EU-Israel Association Agreement
"The situation in Gaza is catastrophic," Kaja Kallas, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, said in a press conference in Brussels on Tuesday following a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council.
"The aid that Israel has allowed in is, of course, welcomed, but it's a drop in the ocean. Aid must flow immediately without obstruction and at scale because this is what is needed.
“I’ve made these points also in my talks with the Israelis. I’ve had talks with UN and the regional leaders as well. Pressure is necessary to change the situation.
"It is clear from today's discussion that there is a strong majority in favor of review of Article 2 of our Association Agreement with Israel.
"So, we will launch this exercise, and, in the meantime, it is up to Israel to unblock the humanitarian aid.
"Saving lives must be our top priority."
Kallas declined to say how many or which member states voted in support of the decision to review the Association Agreement with Israel, but said it was a "huge majority."
RTÉ News has separately reported that 17 member states, including Ireland, supported the move, while nine opposed it.
Kallas continued: "I think what it tells is that the countries see that the situation in Gaza is untenable and what we want is to really help the people, and what we want is to unblock the humanitarian aid so that it will reach the people there.
"The trucks are behind the borders - there are thousands of trucks. Like I said, the hundred trucks that came in, it's a welcome step, but it's not enough because the needs are much bigger.
"This humanitarian aid is very much financed by the Eutopan Union, and that's why the member states are also very keen on sending this message that the suffering of the people is untenable."
Sanctions are working.
They hit Russia’s economy hard and hamper its capacity to wage war.
We are already preparing the next package.My press conference following today’s Foreign Affairs Council ↓ https://t.co/EiNwBeTlfG
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) May 20, 2025
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