<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares announced this Monday in Brussels his intention to ask “all” his EU counterparts for the “immediate suspension” of the Association Agreement with Israel and to defend “a courageous Europe that raises the flag of peace and says no to war” and to the military escalation in the Middle East.</strong></h4> “Our concern, Spain's concern, is paramount regarding the situation in the Middle East and in relation to Iran,” Albares declared upon his arrival at the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting. “We call on all parties to de-escalate. It is time for diplomacy. It is time to return to the negotiating table. There is no military solution in the Middle East,” he continued. “Therefore, I am going to ask all the foreign ministers of the European Union and the High Representative (Kaja Kallas) for courage today, here in Brussels,” he announced. “Europe must be brave to raise the flag of peace, to defend international law, to say no to war and yes to diplomacy and negotiation, because Europe can be a stabilizing power at this time, a region that provides a vision, diplomatic experience, and a way out of this currently entrenched crisis,” he warned. “What I am going to ask for is courage—statements, of course, condemnations, of course, but actions on the part of the European Union, diplomatic actions in everything related to Iran to ensure that diplomacy, and not war, is the preferred option to ensure that everything related to the Iranian nuclear issue is resolved through negotiation,” he added. “I am also going to ask Europe for courage to defend the most basic principles, not only of international law, but of mere humanity,” he continued. “We have on the table a report from the High Representative, requested by Spain for many months, which clearly indicates what Spain already knew: that there is a flagrant violation of human rights in Gaza by Israel at this time, and that, therefore, the Association Council between the European Union and Israel, which is based precisely on human rights, is being violated,” Albares declared. “Therefore, we must have courage: the time for words, the time for declarations, is over. The Palestinians of Gaza need action, and therefore, the important thing today is not to denounce; that's clear, we've been doing so for months. It's not denunciations that will stop this inhumane war in Gaza, it's actions,” the minister continued. “I will clearly put three things on the table: the immediate suspension of the Association Agreement, an embargo on arms sales by the European Union and Israel, and individual sanctions against all those who want to definitively thwart the two-state solution.” “Ultimately, the Middle East affects the European Union very directly for two reasons: one because it destabilizes the Mediterranean region, of which Spain is a part,” and because “the values that are being trampled—international law, the abolition of war as a way of resolving conflicts between states, human rights—those concepts were born in Europe, and therefore, if Europe does not defend them, all of humanity will be orphaned,” he said. <h5><strong>Main Outcomes of the Foreign Affairs Council</strong></h5> During the FAC meeting, the EU-27 foreign ministers held an informal breakfast to discuss the latest developments in Iran. They reiterated the EU's call for de-escalation and diplomatic action and confirmed the EU's position that Iran must "never" be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. Regarding Gaza, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Council, Kaja Kallas, briefed the Council on her contacts with the Israeli authorities and on the messages conveyed to Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, particularly on the need to lift the embargo on food and medicine. The High Representative also presented to the Council the review of Israel's compliance with Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and the ministers held an exchange of views on the matter. “Our first objective is to change the situation on the ground and help humanitarian aid reach and help people. So today was the beginning of the debate (on the review with Israel), not the end,” said Kaja Kallas. The Foreign Affairs Council also addressed the Russian aggression against Ukraine, following an intervention by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who personally joined EU ministers to update them on ongoing diplomatic developments, the situation on the ground, and Ukraine's most urgent priorities. “We all support efforts to achieve a ceasefire, but Russia is increasing the frequency and intensity of its attacks. Last night, we again had five casualties in Kyiv. This requires us to respond strongly,” Kallas said. The Council then discussed military support for Ukraine, and EU ministers addressed the 18th package of individual and economic sanctions against Russia, currently under discussion, and held a discussion on Russia's hybrid actions against European countries, with a briefing from Daniel Markić, director of the European Union Intelligence and Situation Centre (EU INTCEN). During the working lunch, the Foreign Affairs Council discussed relations with China, including China's actions affecting EU security, such as China's support for Russia and its war of aggression against Ukraine, and China's hybrid activities (e.g., cyberattacks and manipulation and interference with foreign information).
