World

EU Drops Plan to Suspend Israel Trade Deal

Divisions remain as member states look for alternative actions

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Newstimehub

21 Apr, 2026

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Antonio Tajani said that a proposal to suspend the EU’s trade agreement with Israel has been officially dropped, signaling ongoing disagreements within Europe.

Speaking during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, Tajani confirmed that the idea of suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement is no longer being pursued.

Instead, EU countries will discuss other possible actions at their next meeting in May. Tajani noted that Italy is still applying pressure on Israel, including suspending automatic renewal of a defense agreement, but emphasized that measures should target governments—not civilians.

The issue has revealed clear divisions within the European Union. Countries like Spain and Ireland had supported suspending the agreement, while others such as Germany opposed the move.

The debate reflects broader disagreements in Europe over how to respond to the situation in Gaza while balancing political, economic, and humanitarian concerns.

Source: AA