Sánchez announced that he will call for the termination of the EU Association Agreement with Israel — EFE
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced his intention to submit the issue of fully terminating the Association Agreement with Israel for formal consideration by the Council of the European Union.
EFE reports this.
The reason for this radical step is the ongoing military operations in the Middle East, which Madrid considers a gross violation of international law and the fundamental values of the European Union.
The proposal will be presented on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at a meeting of EU foreign ministers.
Sánchez emphasized that a partnership with a state that ignores the principles of humanitarian law is impossible for a democratic community.
“We are doing this not because we have anything against Israel; on the contrary, we are a people friendly to the people of Israel, but we do not agree with the actions taken by its government. And a government that violates international law, and thus violates the principles and values of the European Union, cannot be a partner of the EU,” the Spanish prime minister stated during a speech at a Socialist Party rally.
Sánchez also once again criticized the U.S. and Israeli military operation against Iran, calling it a “huge mistake” that has led to massive human casualties and billions in economic losses.
Earlier, Spain had already officially refused to allow the use of its military bases to launch strikes on Iranian territory, despite diplomatic pressure from Washington.
The Association Agreement, signed back in 1995, serves as the legal foundation for economic cooperation and political dialogue between Brussels and Tel Aviv.
It contains a clause on the mandatory observance of human rights, which, according to Madrid, is currently being systematically violated.
Sánchez’s initiative has already been supported by several European capitals, including Dublin and Ljubljana.
At the same time, a heated debate is expected to erupt in the EU Council, as Central and Eastern European countries traditionally take a more cautious stance on sanctions against Israel.
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