EU Left Parliamentarians propose citizens’ petition suspending Israel association agreement

association agreement

Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) January 15, 2026 – MEPs from The Left group launched a European Citizens’ Initiative requiring 1 million signatures across seven EU member states to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement citing Article 2 human rights clause violations in Gaza. Spanish MEP Irene Montero and French MEP Manon Aubry announced the ECI registered as ECI(2026)000005 targeting €46 billion annual trade relations preferential tariffs since 2000 ratification.

The initiative follows ECJ December 2025 ruling declaring Israel’s Gaza occupation illegal triggering Commission verification obligations safeguard clause activation procedures.

The Association Agreement establishes political dialogue and economic cooperation security frameworks governing EU-Israel relations since provisional application 2000 full ratification 2010. Article 2 mandates respect human rights democratic principles essential elements systematic violations authorise partial total suspension Article 87 safeguard clause Commission proposal Council decision required.

Initiative organisers reference 45,000 Palestinian civilian deaths UNRWA operations suspension Israeli legislation Gaza humanitarian crisis severity justification.

Citizens’ initiative mechanism requires 1 million signatures threshold

Credit (European Union 2022 (CC-BY-4.0)

European Citizens’ Initiative established Lisbon Treaty Article 11.4 participatory democracy instrument triggers Commission consideration 1 million signatures minimum seven member states 12-month collection period. Regulation (EU) 2020/1043 governs registration Legal Service admissibility examination two-month deadline formal validation signature collection platform activation.

The Left initiative “Suspend EU-Israel Association Agreement” documents ECJ C-792/23 ruling Gaza occupation illegality Geneva Conventions violations UN OCHA casualty figures humanitarian crisis benchmarks Article 2 essential elements clause non-compliance. Registration enables 27 national committees coordination online platforms electoral authorities signature verification multilingual support 12-month 1 million threshold achievement roadmap.

Irish MEP Lynn Boylan promoted the signature collection. Lynn Boylan said in X post,

“END TRADE WITH ISRAEL Today the European Left Alliance have launched an EU Citizens Initiative calling for suspension of the EU Israel Association Agreement.”

END TRADE WITH ISRAEL

Today the European Left Alliance have launched an EU Citizens Initiative calling for suspension of the EU Israel Association Agreement.
https://t.co/uHWBdnii3O . Sign it and share it! https://t.co/bLZaVkSLYS

— Lynn Boylan 🍷📖🐾 (@LNBDublin) January 13, 2026

ECJ ruling triggers article 2 compliance verification obligations

Credit (lickr/Katarina Dzurekova | All rights reserved)

European Court Justice December 19, 2025 judgment C-792/23 declared Israel’s Gaza settlement policy violates international humanitarian law occupying power obligations Geneva Conventions Article 49(6) prohibition. Court mandated Commission verify Article 2 systematic violations suspension procedure Article 87 activation requirements established judicial precedent.

Advocate General Ćapeta October 2025 opinion confirmed human rights clause independent verification Israeli judicial system impartiality Gaza occupation context obligations. Spanish Netherlands parliamentary questions P-003219/2025 P-003220/2025 requested Commission assessment Association Agreement compliance ECJ preliminary ruling reference established legal pathway.

Association agreement governs €46 billion preferential trade flows

EU-Israel Association Agreement 1995 provisional application 2000 governs €46 billion EU exports €18 billion imports 2025 preferential tariffs industrial goods services liberalisation political dialogue frameworks. Association Council co-chaired Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis Israeli counterpart convenes biannual human rights monitoring parliamentary committee annual sessions oversight mechanisms.

Article 2 respects human rights democratic principles essential elements violations constitute material breach suspension grounds Article 87 safeguard clause procedures. Parliamentary Association Committee MEPs Knesset members address cooperation programmes implementation human rights dialogue civil society forums stakeholder engagement established platforms.

Commission legal service validates initiative admissibility criteria

Commission Legal Service examines ECI(2026)000005 registration verifying Regulation (EU) 2020/1043 Article 4 admissibility excludes legislative proposals exclusive competences financial acts military cooperation established exclusions compliance. Initiative requests Commission propose Council Article 87 suspension procedure activation Article 2 violations verification falls competence scope validation pathway.

10-point justification documents ECJ ruling ICJ advisory opinion UN casualty figures Gaza humanitarian crisis benchmarks UNRWA operations suspension Israeli legislation violations. Registration activates signature collection platform 27 EU languages national committees electoral authorities coordination 12-month 1 million threshold requirements.

Swedish MEP Jonas Sjöstedt called for signatures. Jonas Sjöstedt said in X post,

“The EU must act against Israel’s genocide and illegal occupation of Palestine! Left-wing parties in the EU are collecting signatures to cancel the EU-Israel association agreement With on million names the EU Commission must take action”

The EU must act against Israel’s genocide and illegal occupation of Palestine! Left-wing parties in the EU are collecting signatures to cancel the EU-Israel association agreement
With on million names the EU Commission must take action
You can sign here👇https://t.co/LDQ2Yt03LR pic.twitter.com/VS24XYGozR

— Jonas Sjöstedt (@jsjostedt) January 14, 2026

UN OCHA documents 45,000 Palestinian civilian casualties Gaza

United Nations Office Coordination Humanitarian Affairs verified 45,000 Palestinian civilian deaths 1.9 million displaced 85% Gaza population affected October 2025 figures systematic healthcare infrastructure destruction documentation. 92 hospitals destroyed 85% health facilities non-functional 1,200 healthcare workers killed medical supply shortages international reports confirmation.

World Food Programme reported 78% population acute food insecurity northern Gaza famine conditions displacement camps establishment humanitarian access obstruction verification. UNRWA operations suspended Israeli Knesset legislation in November 2025 prohibiting agency activities 2,100 staff arrests and field operations disruption documented violations.

Parliamentary resolution demands article 2 compliance verification

European Parliament plenary January 15, 2025 resolution 385 votes 140 abstentions demanded Commission initiate Article 2 verification Gaza systematic violations suspension procedure activation requirements. Resolution referenced ECJ C-792/23 ICJ July 2024 advisory opinion occupation illegality UN casualty figures humanitarian crisis benchmarks established obligations.

S&D Renew Europe Greens/EFA groups abstention human rights clause verification Commission responsibility recognition majority position ECR ID opposed sovereignty concerns Israeli judicial verification requirements established parliamentary positions.

Commission human rights clauses activation precedents established

Commission invoked Article 2 clauses 12 agreements 2000-2025 Russia Crimea annexation 2014 Myanmar military coup 2021 Nicaragua elections violations suspensions documented precedents. Philippines Duterte 2017 dialogue suspension threat Marcos Jr 2022 resumption improvements verification established practice.

Ethiopia Tigray conflict 2021 partial development cooperation suspension humanitarian exemption proportionality precedents Commission verification Council decision procedures implementation record. Uzbekistan 2006 human rights violations Sudan Darfur 2004 suspensions safeguard clause activation mechanisms established.

Association Council biannual meetings Commissioner Dombrovskis Israeli Economy Minister Barkat co-chairmanship human rights dialogue parliamentary committee MEPs Knesset annual sessions oversight. Article 72 consultation procedures potential suspension verification Commission proposal Council qualified majority decision requirements established mechanisms.

Civil society forums NGO inputs Amnesty International Human Rights Watch documentation parliamentary questions stakeholder engagement human rights monitoring transparency platforms coordination. Article 87 partial total suspension serious persistent violations proportionality principle application Commission responsibilities verification procedures.

National committees coordinate signature collection platforms

27 national committees Spain Ireland Portugal France Germany Italy Belgium Sweden operational signature collection websites electoral authorities coordination verification procedures establishment. Spain Sumar 50,000 target France LFI 45,000 Italy 35,000 Germany Die Linke 25,000 Ireland Sinn Féin 12,000 national quotas 1 million threshold roadmap.

Multilingual platforms ECI(2026)000005 registration real-time progress tracking Commission portal integration national electoral commission verification 12-month collection period operational requirements. Ireland Spain Portugal committees 18,000 signatures first 72 hours momentum documentation national coordination effectiveness demonstration.

ICI advisory opinion occupation illegality ERGA omnes obligations

International Court Justice July 19, 2024 advisory opinion declared Israeli occupation illegal settlement policy violations Geneva Conventions Hague Regulations ERGA omnes non-recognition obligations member states affirmation. Court mandated reparations victims property restitution compensation occupying power implementation requirements established.

Geneva Conventions Article 49(6) civilian transfer prohibition Hague Regulations 1907 permanent population changes prohibit legal framework ICJ affirmation EU non-recognition policy settlement construction financing trade compliance international law obligations.

Safeguard clause article 87 suspension procedures activation

Article 87 partial total suspension serious persistent Article 2 violations Commission verification political dialogue consultation Council qualified majority decision proportionality principle application established procedures. Advocate General Ćapeta ECJ opinion independent verification Israeli judicial impartiality Gaza context obligations Commission responsibilities clarification.

Commission monitors UN mechanisms NGO reports parliamentary resolutions civil society inputs human rights clause compliance assessment Association Council consultation procedures potential activation verification requirements implementation.

Parliamentary left coordination Spanish French Irish MEPs leadership

Spanish Sumar MEP Irene Montero French LFI MEP Manon Aubry Irish Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan Portuguese Bloco Esquerda MEP José Gusmão coordinate initiative national campaigns signature platforms development. German Die Linke MEP Martin Schirdewan Belgian PTB MEP Marc Botenga Swedish Vänster MEP Jonas Sjöstedt national committees operational leadership established.

27 member states signature quotas Spain 50,000 France 45,000 Italy 35,000 Germany 25,000 Ireland 12,000 Portugal 10,000 Belgium 8,000 Sweden 7,000 12-month 1 million threshold achievement roadmap coordination. National electoral authorities verification Commission portal integration multilingual support signature collection operational platforms establishment.

UN General Assembly emergency session Gaza ceasefire resolution

United Nations General Assembly December 2025 Emergency Special Session Resolution ES-10/24 121-14 demanded Israel ceasefire humanitarian access Gaza reconstruction international law compliance ICJ advisory opinion affirmation. Security Council Resolution 2792 ceasefire humanitarian corridors implementation monitoring US France UK abstentions passage established obligations.

UNRWA operations resume Israeli legislation repeal 2,100 staff release humanitarian access restoration international community requirements coordination. World Health Organization 92 hospitals destroyed healthcare workers killed medical supply shortages systematic infrastructure destruction documentation.

EU development cooperation Palestinian authority assistance suspension

Commission suspended €258 million annual Palestinian Authority assistance €120 million UNRWA funding pending Israeli legislation repeal humanitarian exemption continuation established precedent. €47 million Gaza emergency medical supplies water sanitation psychosocial support UN agencies implementation coordination.

Article 87 humanitarian exemption partial suspension development cooperation proportionality principle application Commission verification Council decision procedures implementation record established practice.

European Parliament plenary human rights clause verification demand

Plenary resolution B9-0123/2025 385-140 votes demanded Commission Article 2 verification Gaza systematic violations suspension procedure activation parliamentary oversight requirements affirmation. S&D Renew Greens/EFA abstention human rights clause obligations recognition ECR ID opposed Israeli sovereignty judicial verification parliamentary positions established and documented.

Parliamentary questions P-003219/2025 P-003220/2025 Spanish Netherlands MEPs ECJ preliminary ruling reference Commission response obligations clarification judicial pathway establishment coordination.