EU's ex-top diplomat says von der Leyen ‘complicit' in Israeli war crimes in Gaza
"Those who do not act to stop this genocide and these violations of international law, even though they have the power to do so, are complicit in them. This is unfortunately the case with the leaders of the European Union and those of its member states," Borrell wrote in an op-ed published in left-wing British newspaper The Guardian on Friday.
"The leaders of the EU and its member states will probably be called to account in the future for their complicity in the crimes against humanity committed by [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's government," he wrote.
The 78-year-old Spanish socialist, who held his EU role between 2019 and 2024, said that European leaders have a legal duty to cancel the EU-Israel Association Agreement, citing Israel's breach of its humanitarian obligations in Gaza.
The agreement is a legal framework that gives Israel perks on trade, visas and research collaboration.
"This is the only language that can bring Israeli leaders to stop committing crimes against humanity," the former Spanish foreign minister wrote.
He added that the EU's failure to put pressure on Netanyahu's government was damaging the bloc's international standing, accusing it of applying a double standard compared to its response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Borrell also advocated blocking weapons deliveries to Israel, banning imports from West Bank settlements, sanctioning far-right ministers, and banning Netanyahu from Europe's airspace.
He chaired the meetings of EU governments' foreign ministers for nine months after 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched a terror attack on Israel from Gaza.
Although he did not use the word 'genocide' while in office, he repeatedly called on Israel to respect international humanitarian law in Gaza. In light of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza in recent months, Borrell has become more vocal in his criticism of European institutions.
(cs, jp)
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Euractiv
2 hours ago
- Euractiv
Why the EU is ‘absent' in Gaza
Welcome to the Capitals by Eddy Wax. Get in touch. Were you forwarded this newsletter by a friend? Sign up here. In today's edition: Inside Europe's Gaza paralysis EU crumbles further on trade threats Spy trial could spill AfD secrets Global plastic treaty talks in Geneva 'Fake' rice threatens Valencian tradition In the Capital Nicolas Schmit, who sat in the European Commission in the aftermath of the 7 October attacks by Hamas, says the bloc's muddled stance on the Gaza war stems from something deeper than disagreement: institutional inertia and presidential control. In an exclusive interview with The Capitals, the Luxembourg socialist said the Commission did not hold proper debate about Europe's relationship with Israel during the 13 months that he was in office after the war was triggered. 'We never had a real strategic discussion on the Middle East issue from the different points of view,' he said. 'We should have debated the relationship with Israel [but] we did not." That omission, Schmit argued, was partly because President Ursula von der Leyen was aligned with Berlin and Washington, leaving little space for divergent views among the other commissioners. 'If you cannot identify and formulate collectively as a Commission,' Schmit said, 'you're just muddling through, and just crying big tears on what happens to the poor people of Gaza.' Schmit's term as commissioner for jobs and social rights ended late last year. His remarks come after his 'very good friend' and former colleague Josep Borrell, the bloc's former top diplomat, accused EU leadership of being 'complicit' in war crimes by Israel in an eyebrow-raising op-ed, published across British, French, Italian, Spanish and Belgian media. Reached for a response by Euractiv, the Commission declined to comment, saying it does not comment on comments. 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Euractiv
3 hours ago
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Ex-Krah aide's memos could expose German far right in China spy trial
The espionage trial against former Krah aide Jian G starts Tuesday, featuring sensitive memos on internal AfD coups and the private life of the party's co-leader Euractiv is part of the Trust Project Nick Alipour Euractiv Aug 5, 2025 06:00 3 min. read News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. BERLIN – The espionage trial against Maximilian Krah's former parliamentary assistant starts on Tuesday, amid reports that it could reveal sensit ive memos about the far-right Alternative for Germany. The staffer, identified as Jian G, was arrested shortly before the 2024 European elections on charges of spying for China. Prosecutors allege he collected some 500 sensitive parliamentary documents in Brussels between 2019 and 2024, while working for Krah, a former AfD MEP, who is now a German MP. Tuesday's hearings could bring delicate AfD matters to light, which G allegedly recorded in several memos, some of which were revealed by German media last week. According to German magazine Der Spiegel, the memos are part of the evidence in the case and contain information on planned internal coups, business plans of AfD MPs, as well as on the personal life of Alice Weidel, the AfD's co-chair. Krah told G during a breakfast meeting in Prague in January 2024 that the AfD's second co-chair, Tino Chrupalla, was looking to topple Weidel, Der Spiegel reported. Chrupalla had let Weidel take the spotlight as lead candidate in the 2025 German elections, Krah reportedly said, in the hope of becoming the sole leader of the AfD if Weidel stumbled due to 'her weakness and lack of leadership qualities." The AfD MP also allegedly disclosed the identity of the sperm donor for one of Weidel's children with her female partner. Der Spiegel reported that Weidel's love life was likewise discussed during a meeting of G and Jan Wenzel Schmidt, another AfD MP, at a restaurant in Magdeburg, Germany. The MP reportedly claimed that the AfD leader was 'not as tough and determined' as she appears in public but still too popular to be replaced by Krah, for example. Schmidt also pitched a business idea to G on selling synthetic diamonds, one of which was reportedly handed to G as a demonstrator. Both Krah and Schmidt have largely denied the claims made by the reports. Krah told Der Spiegel that he didn't recall a meeting in Prague and denied conversations about internal and private matters, presuming that G simply took note of general rumours. Schmidt acknowledged the Magdeburg meeting, but denied that he discussed business or Weidel's private life. Thirteen days have been earmarked for the trial, with Krah himself expected to testify on 3 September. The MP, who was elected to the Bundestag in this year's German elections, had his own immunity lifted by the German parliament in May in relation to the trial as p rosecutors are investigating charges of money laundering and bribery. Der Spiegel reported that businesses affiliated with G allegedly paid some €50,000 to law firms that Krah worked for. Neither Krah nor Schmidt responded to requests for comment by the time of publication. (mm) Euractiv is part of the Trust Project
Euractiv
3 hours ago
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Brussels might scrap digital laws to appease US, warns top EU lawmaker
The European Commission risks caving to US pressure to weaken its landmark digital regulations as it seeks to finalise last month's preliminary trade agreement with Washington, according to Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's international trade committee. Speaking to Euractiv, the German MEP said 'there is a risk' that the EU's flagship Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) – which regulate online content and curb market abuse by major tech platforms – could be scrapped to appease Washington, despite repeated assurances from the Commission that the bloc's digital rulebook is not up for discussion. Previous pledges, such as Brussels' promise to reject any deal that retained US President Donald Trump's 10% baseline tariff, were ultimately dropped to secure the so-called 'framework' agreement. The deal will expose most EU exporters to a 15% US levy, though key details remain under negotiation. 'Of course, there is a risk' that the EU could jettison its digital laws, Lange warned, citing the 'big difference' between US and EU interpretations of the deal published last week. A White House 'Fact Sheet' stated that both sides 'intend to address unjustified digital trade barriers', and pledged to 'maintain zero customs duties on electronic transmissions' and ensure that the EU 'will not adopt or maintain network usage fees'. By contrast, the European Commission's official summary of the deal made no reference to the EU's digital regulations. Adding to the confusion, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CNBC last week that the EU's digital services taxes and 'attack' on US tech firms were still 'on the table'. Commission spokesperson for trade Olof Gill pushed back, saying the bloc's digital rulebook is 'absolutely not' up for discussion. The DSA, which targets harmful online content, has been repeatedly criticised by US officials – including Vice President JD Vance – for enabling 'digital censorship' and the 'silencing' of Brussels' political opponents. The DMA, meanwhile, has been central to the Commission's antitrust probes and fines targeting US tech giants like Google, Apple, and Meta, drawing backlash from Trump and Silicon Valley. A debatable deficit Lange said that fears over the Commission abandoning its digital laws are compounded by Brussels' capitulation in the dispute over the size of the EU's trade surplus with the US. Ahead of last week's agreement, EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič repeatedly emphasised that the EU's €200 billion trade surplus in goods with the US was 'nearly balanced out' by its €150 billion deficit in services. He also pledged to 'solve' the 'problem' by increasing EU imports of US energy and food by €50 billion annually. However, under last month's agreement, the EU committed to purchasing $250 billion worth of US energy annually over the remaining three years of Trump's presidency – effectively endorsing Washington's argument that only trade in goods, but not services, is economically salient. 'Maroš said: 'We have to combine trade in goods and services as well, and then the trade deficit is so small, only €50 billion,'' said Lange. 'And then [Commission President] Ursula [von der Leyen] said: 'Oh yeah, there is a trade deficit on the US side, and we have to rebalance this.' So in this talk with President Trump, she took on board the argument of Trump.' Lange, a Social Democrat, also criticised the Commission – which oversees EU trade policy – for sidelining the European Parliament, the bloc's only directly elected institution, during negotiations. 'We had some discussions [with Commission officials] but there was, clearly, no taking on board of the Parliament's view, that's for sure,' said Lange. He added that it is 'really not acceptable' that von der Leyen – a fellow German from the rival centre-right European People's Party (EPP) – had centralised so much decision-making power on 'the thirteenth floor of the Berlaymont'. 'The US has specific interests,' Lange said. 'I hope that the Commission will [not] give up – but it's in the hands of Ursula.' (de)
