ZAGREB, 21 April (Hina) – Croatia supports a balanced approach to relations with Israel and proposals by some EU countries to suspend the association agreement, Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman said in Luxembourg on Tuesday.
Grlić Radman said Croatia favoured a balanced, legally grounded and responsible approach, distinguishing between Israel’s legitimate security concerns, the need to protect civilians and respect for international law.
He was speaking at a meeting of EU foreign ministers, where several countries, including Spain, Ireland and Slovenia, called for suspension of the association agreement over violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, the humanitarian situation in Gaza and new legislation on the death penalty.
Some member states support full suspension, others only the trade component, while France and Sweden have proposed limiting imports from illegal Israeli settlements.
The European Commission has proposed suspending parts of the agreement affecting around €5.8 billion in Israeli exports. Germany and Austria oppose suspension of the agreement, while Austria could support sanctions on violent settlers.
Suspension of the trade provisions requires a qualified majority, while a full suspension requires unanimity among EU member states. Introduction of sanctions against violent Israeli settlers also requires a unanimous decision by the member states.
