- September 10, 2025
- 3:35 pm
- Brief news
Ursula von der Leyen delivered a report in Strasbourg, where she proposed to suspend the Association Agreement between the EU and Israel. The main motive for this decision was the “actions of the IDF in the Gaza Strip.”
Course of the Speech
In her speech at the European Parliament on September 10, 2025, Ursula von der Leyen stated:
“Bilateral aid and payments related to the Association Agreement with Israel will be suspended.”
This statement came against the backdrop of a demonstration organized by some parliamentarians, most of whom belonged to the Progressive Bloc. They protested against the “Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, during which tens of thousands of people died,” who are victims of the conflict between Hamas and Israel.
Von der Leyen also noted that cooperation with Israeli civil society and Yad Vashem, the national Holocaust memorial complex, will continue.
Moreover, two main proposals were presented:
- the introduction of sanctions against extremist ministers and “violent settlers”;
- partial restriction of trade aspects.
In her address to the European Union, von der Leyen emphasized that she will do everything possible to suspend all payments to Israel without harming the work with the civil society of this country.
Additional Aspects
The implementation of the proposed measures will require careful monitoring. It is necessary to consider how these changes will affect Israeli society and economy, as well as relations with other countries. It is also important to understand that any restriction may have serious consequences for diplomatic relations between the EU and Israel.
The EU’s position on international security issues is more relevant than ever. In the current conditions, changes in the situation require a more balanced approach, resilience, and a commitment to peaceful conflict resolution. Ursula von der Leyen calls for the need to rethink the role of the EU as an important player on the international stage.