Minister Fajon at Informal Meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers: The EU must take action against the Israeli government
Minister Tanja Fajon at the Informal Meeting of EU Ministers for Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen | Author MZEZ
"The European Union must act. The famine officially declared in Gaza, the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, the violence in the West Bank, extensive Israeli military operations and the disregard for the humanitarian agreement with the EU all demand that the Union take action. Inaction is unacceptable. It undermines the credibility of the EU and the foundations of international law. Future generations will judge us by our actions. This is not only a legal and political responsibility; it is also a moral imperative, a matter of humanity. The world is watching us and people are disappointed," Minister Fajon underlined during the debate on Gaza and the West Bank.
She advocated for the adoption of EU sanctions against the Israeli Government. "If not by consensus, then at least those requiring a qualified majority." She welcomed the initiative of France and Saudi Arabia to hold a conference on the two-state solution in New York in September and praised the fact that the EU as a whole condemned the US decision to deny visas to the Palestinian delegation. "This is a matter of upholding agreements and ensuring the effective functioning of the UN," Minister Fajon cautioned.
Ministers also discussed Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha participating via video link. Minister Fajon stressed: "Pressure on Putin must be increased, an immediate ceasefire is urgently required and conditions must be created for peace negotiations. Only Ukraine can decide on its future. We must not allow internationally recognized borders to be altered by force. Regarding the unfreezing of the principal amount of the Russian Central Bank's frozen assets, Minister Fajon concurred with most other speakers and the European Central Bank that further discussions with experts are needed and that any decision must be based on international law.
Ministers also welcomed the readiness of the United States to provide security guarantees for Ukraine. Minister Fajon informed her colleagues that the EU must intensify dialogue with global partners, including during the UN General Assembly in September, with the objective of increasing pressure on Russia to secure a ceasefire and launch meaningful peace negotiations.