The European Union’s Foreign Affairs Commission is expected to debate taking punitive measures against Israel should it push forward with its plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank and the Jordan Valley.
Israel Hayom newspaper said that EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell is the one pushing for sanctions claiming that Borrell a Spanish diplomat is known for his animosity toward Israel.
‘The EU’s charter states that all major foreign policy decisions can be made only by a consensus among the bloc’s 27 member-states. It is therefore believed that Israel’s allies in the EU – Hungary Romania Bulgaria and the Czech Republic – will block any major punitive action Borrell may try to promote” the newspaper pointed out.
Currently Sweden Ireland and Luxembourg are pushing for the harshest response namely suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement which regulates the relations between the two countries.
Another potential measure will exclude Israel from Horizon Europe an ambitious EU research and innovation framework slated to run between 2021 and 2027 according to the newspaper.
“A third scenario may see the EU pull out of the open skies agreement with Israel which it has yet to ratify” the newspaper expressed its belief adding that such scenarios would lead to a significant economic impact on Israel.
The EU’s foreign ministers are expected to debate the issue in their next meeting scheduled for next Thursday.
