Ahead of the upcoming Foreign Affairs Council meeting scheduled for January 27th, European trade union organisations and confederations called on the European Commission to fulfill its obligations and review the Israeli Government’s compliance with article two of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
A group of 34 trade unions, urged the Commission to fulfil its responsibility as the ‘Guardian of the Treaty’, by complying with the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, the February 2024 requests from the governments of Ireland and Spain and recommend adequate measures to the Council to address the grave violations of international humanitarian law by the Israeli government during the last 15 months.
`Since October 2023 over 46,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, with at least 10,000 more reported missing, or under the rubble, according to UN figures` – the letter states.
`Trade union members have been particularly affected by the increasingly brutal actions of the state of Israel, including the deliberate targeting of medical, aid workers and journalists. More than 1,000 health workers and 318 aid workers have been killed in Gaza, including 235 UN staff. 200 aid workers have been killed in seven months — exceeding the total number killed in the entire world in any year in the past two decades` – the letter reads.
European trade unions are especially concerned about the European Commission`s `failure to act` in the context of ICC ongoing investigation about Israel`s plausible genocide, ICC arrest warrants issued for Israeli leaders, UN resolutions and reports as well as ICJ rulings and ICJ Advisory Opinion.
While the news about the long-awaited ceasefire is very much welcomed, as it offers a temporary and necessary respite, there is still a need for ongoing international pressure and accountability.
`Therefore, we demand that the European Commission performs its duty by reviewing the EU-Israel Association Agreement and recommending to the Council suspension of the treaty, considering Israel’s breaches of article 2 as also reaffirmed by the ICJ and other relevant bodies of the United Nations. In addition, we urge European countries to abide by their obligation to refrain from assisting in maintaining the illegal situation, arising from Israel’s violations of peremptory norms, including by stopping trade with Israeli settlements and suspending the provision of military equipment as well as weapons transfer via its territories.` – the unions say.