Latest news with #CasparVeldkamp
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Israel fears the threat of trade sanctions — but is the EU ready to follow through?
After many months of inaction and complicity in the face of Israel's destruction of Gaza, Europe is finally beginning to stir. Tens of thousands of people killed and attacks on schools and hospitals had apparently not been enough. But, along with the blocking of humanitarian aid and open calls for ethnic cleansing, Israel's actions finally became too severe to ignore, deny or justify. In recent weeks, a cascade of unusually strong statements, diplomatic rebukes and threats of sanctions has emerged from European capitals – each move amplifying the next, as if a long-dormant herd has suddenly jolted into motion. Among these developments, the most significant may be the possible suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement, which grants Israel preferential access to the world's largest single market. Last month, the Dutch foreign minister, Caspar Veldkamp, broke the EU's silence with a letter demanding a formal review of Israel's compliance with article 2 of the agreement, which requires it to 'respect human rights'. That move triggered a wave of other EU states lining up behind the idea. At the 20 May meeting of EU foreign ministers, a clear majority – 17 member states – backed the Dutch proposal. EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, who had appeared sceptical ahead of the meeting, seemed to shift during the discussion and at the end clearly announced the launch of the review. Is this a real turning point or just more empty words? That remains to be seen. What is clear is that the EU's dynamics have shifted. A year ago, when Spain and Ireland – the governments most vocal about the Palestinian plight – proposed the same review idea, they found little support. The Netherlands, by contrast, is traditionally closer to Israel and sits in the EU's middle ground on this issue. It is this broad centre, which up until now favoured dialogue and close ties with Israel, that has now shifted and aligned with the more critical flank. Only Israel's staunchest backers – including Germany, Italy, Hungary and the Czech Republic – remained in a minority voting against the review. The review is only the first step: an examination of whether Israel is breaching article 2, which defines respect for human rights as an 'essential element' of the agreement. Given the scale of violations and crimes in Gaza and the West Bank, backed up by findings from international courts, such a review shouldn't even be necessary. As one Irish campaigner put it: 'It's like standing in front of a burning building and asking for a review of whether there's a fire.' The facts are clear – but even acknowledging them is politically explosive. The review, which is expected to be done by the next EU foreign ministers' meeting on 23 June, now depends on two key figures: Kallas and the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen. Will they confirm the obvious – that Israel is in breach of article 2 – and draw the logical consequences? Or will they seek to shield EU-Israel ties from any rupture? Kallas, a liberal from Estonia, had until recently avoided much criticism of Israel, though now seems to have moved along with the EU's political centre. Von der Leyen, a German Christian Democrat, represents the bloc's more Israel-aligned wing. She was the face of the EU's initial blanket support for Israel's devastating response to Hamas's 7 October 2023 atrocities, and then fell largely silent as civilian deaths in Gaza soared. But last week, for the first time, she stated that Israel's killing of civilians is 'abhorrent' and 'cannot be justified under humanitarian and international law'. That language points unmistakably toward the only credible conclusion the review can reach. Once the review is completed, EU foreign ministers will discuss options for next steps, which should include suspending the association agreement. A full suspension would require unanimity among all 27 member states – an impossible bar given diehards such as Hungary. But suspending the agreement's preferential trade component – the most economically significant part – requires only a qualified majority: 15 member states representing at least 65% of the EU population. The trade pillar is where the real leverage lies. The EU is Israel's largest trading partner, accounting for 32% of its total trade. Israel, by contrast, represents just 0.8% of the EU's trade. Revoking preferential access wouldn't stop trade, but would impose a tangible cost on Israel in the form of higher tariffs and reduced market access. The EU could also suspend Israel's participation in Horizon Europe, the union's flagship research programme – a prospect already causing alarm in Israel's academic sector. Reaching a qualified majority is still a tall order. Not all states that voted for the review necessarily favour actual suspension. And to meet the 65% population threshold, Germany or Italy – large states that opposed the review – would need to shift. For now, that seems unlikely. But if Israel continues its current extremist course, pressure will mount. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's unusually strong rebuke of Israel last week suggests that not even Berlin's backing can be taken for granted. And if the EU decided to ignore the findings of an honest review, it would render article 2 meaningless and undermine human rights clauses in EU agreements around the world. Since the 1990s, the EU has invoked such clauses over 20 times to suspend benefits over serious violations, mostly in Africa. That's why the possibility of suspension cannot be dismissed. Unless Israel fundamentally changes course, the likelihood will only grow. For Europe, this is an opportunity to step out of its self-imposed irrelevance and begin to matter again. Pressure-free dialogue has completely failed. When the EU held an association council meeting with Israel in February and politely urged more aid to Gaza and a halt to settlement expansion, Israel responded by blocking all aid and accelerating settlement growth. Only after the Dutch initiative began gaining traction did Israeli officials start pushing internally to allows some aid into Gaza, citing the threat of EU sanctions. To prevent the looming horror of ethnic cleansing and annexation, the EU must go further and impose a real economic and political cost on Israel. If it does, the prospect of restoring suspended benefits could then become the EU's most powerful lever to encourage a different path: one that leads not to endless oppression and violence, but to peace and security based on equality. Martin Konečný runs the European Middle East Project (EuMEP), a Brussels-based NGO
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Cairo Intensifying Efforts to Restore Normal Traffic in Suez Canal
Egypt is intensifying its efforts to return traffic in its Suez Canal back to normal in wake of the hit revenues have taken because of the attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed Suez Canal traffic in a telephone call with his Dutch counterpart Caspar Veldkamp. Veldkamp hoped the recent ceasefire agreement between Yemen and the US would positively impact navigation in the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Abdelatty said Veldkamp stressed the Netherlands' readiness to encourage Dutch companies to resume navigation in the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, helping restore normal traffic levels. Revenue from the Suez Canal, a key source of foreign currency for Egypt, plummeted to $880.9 million in the fourth quarter from $2.40 billion a year earlier, the victim of Houthi attacks, central bank figures showed in May. Egypt's Suez Canal Authority chief, Osama Rabie, said in May the authority is considering offering discounts ranging from 12% to 15% on transit fees to help restore traffic in the strategic waterway. Rabie met with representatives from shipping agencies who called for temporary incentives that would help offset increased insurance costs for vessels operating in the Red Sea, which they deemed a high-risk zone. The meeting followed an Oman-mediated ceasefire between the US and the Houthis, under which the US agreed to stop bombing the Houthis in Yemen in return for the group agreeing to stop attacking US ships. The accord does not include Israel. Abdelatty and Veldkamp also exchanged views on the latest developments in the Middle East region, particularly the catastrophic situation in Gaza.
Fibre2Fashion
23-05-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
China & Netherlands deepen ties with six-point cooperation pact
Pic: Shutterstock China and the Netherlands reached six points of consensus at a meeting yesterday between the former's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Dutch counterpart Caspar Veldkamp in Beijing. Both sides agreed to maintain close exchanges and deepen practical cooperation in fields like economy and trade, science and technology, agriculture and water conservation. China and the Netherlands reached six points of consensus at a meeting yesterday between the former's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Dutch counterpart Caspar Veldkamp in Beijing. Both sides agreed to deepen practical cooperation in fields like economy and trade, S&T and agriculture. They agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas like climate adaptation and green transformation. They agreed to maintain close communication related to cooperation in multiple fields and reaffirmed support for multilateralism, pledging to adhere to free trade and the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core. They agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas like climate adaptation and green transformation, a Chinese news agency reported. Wang expressed hope that the Dutch side will provide a just, fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Observer
22-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
China, Netherlands vow deeper cooperation
BEIJING: China and the Netherlands pledged on Thursday to deepen cooperation and communication amid 'global challenges' by bolstering wider China-EU ties to tackle areas such as climate change and the green transition. The two countries agreed to maintain close communication on cooperation in various fields including semiconductor technology, China's foreign ministry said in a statement following a meeting between the two nation's top diplomats. They also pledged to uphold free trade and a multilateral trading system, the statement said. During the meeting in Beijing, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Dutch counterpart Caspar Veldkamp that China was willing to help contribute to China-EU relations and the recovery of the world economy, according to a pool report. 'China is willing to enhance communication and dialogue with the Netherlands, and deepen practical cooperation,' Wang told Veldkamp. — Reuters
Bloomberg
22-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
China Asks Dutch to Ease Chips Export Controls, Minister Says
China has asked the Netherlands to relax export restrictions related to semiconductors, Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Caspar Veldkamp said following a meeting with Chinese officials in Beijing. Semiconductors and 'the policy regarding export controls and export licensing' are a 'topic of continuous discussion,' Veldkamp told reporters Thursday after discussions with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
