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European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Luxembourg, Tuesday, April 21, 2026.<\/p>\n
Virginia Mayo\/AP<\/p>\n
Ireland’s Foreign Minister Helen McEntee speaks with the media as she arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Luxembourg, Tuesday, April 21, 2026.<\/p>\n
Virginia Mayo\/AP<\/p>\n
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Luxembourg, Tuesday, April 21, 2026.<\/p>\n
Virginia Mayo\/AP<\/p>\n
A man holds the flag of Luxembourg and a placard as he demonstrates outside a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Luxembourg, Tuesday, April 21, 2026.<\/p>\n
Virginia Mayo\/AP<\/p>\n
LUXEMBOURG (AP) \u2014 Buoyed by the election of a new leader in Hungary, Europe’s top diplomats are meeting in Luxembourg to forge plans of action on multiple crises from the ongoing war in Ukraine, Russian hybrid attacks, and economic instability as the war in Iran drives up energy prices worldwide.<\/p>\n
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But it is the European Union’s policy toward Israel \u2014 and how to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as security deteriorates in the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the occupied West Bank, as well as in Lebanon \u2014 that is dividing EU members, stymieing strong action, and frustrating many in the 27-nation bloc.<\/p>\n
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Israel disagreement hobbles EU action<\/p>\n
The EU\u2019s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said there was no clear political agreement in Luxembourg to ramp up pressure on Israel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t see that today, but these discussions will continue,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
One of the loudest voices within the EU blocking sharper pressure on Israel is shortly leaving office \u2014 Hungary\u2019s outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n routinely obstructed EU action on issues ranging from support for Ukraine in its war against Russia\u2019s invasion to sanctions on Israelis accused of violent extremism.<\/p>\n
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Kallas said that Orb\u00e1n\u2019s defeat by pro-European opposition leader P\u00e9ter Magyar in Hungary\u2019s recent election could accelerate action.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of issues … have been blocked\u201d by Hungary, she said. \u201cWe are reopening the discussions and hope that we get a positive result.\u201d<\/p>\n
The EU has an Association Agreement, signed in 2000, that regulates trade and cooperation with Israel. Spain, Slovenia and Ireland have proposed completely suspending it, a move that doesn’t have the required unanimous support among EU nations.<\/p>\n
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However, a partial suspension targeting just the trade aspects could have enough political support, said Spanish Foreign Minister Jos\u00e9 Albares.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe European Union has to say today very clearly to Israel that a change is needed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The EU has found indications Israel had violated the agreement with the bloc in its military campaign in Gaza.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe attacks on the values that underpin that agreement are now too serious to ignore,\u201d said Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, adding that Belgium would support at least a partial suspension of the deal.<\/p>\n
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Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Israel’s recent adoption of the death penalty for some Palestinians, and ongoing fighting in Lebanon should push EU nations to ramp up pressure on Israel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to act. We need to make sure that our fundamental values are protected,\u201d McEntee said.<\/p>\n
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said France and Sweden have brought forward a plan to curtail trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank.<\/p>\n
Amnesty International condemned EU’s lack of action to pressure Israel over its actions. Erika Guevara-Rosas, a director for the human rights organization, said \u201ceach delay only further entrenches impunity and paves the way for further grave human rights violations\u201d by Israel.<\/p>\n
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EU diplomats call for extending ceasefires in Lebanon and Iran<\/p>\n
Lebanon\u2019s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam spoke at the meeting in Luxembourg about the fragile ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, difficulties in disarming the Hezbollah militant group, and the need for EU assistance for the war-torn nation.<\/p>\n
\u201cLebanon today needs its European partners more than ever,\u201d Salam posted on X on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
While now mainly headquartered in Brussels, EU institutions are also spread out in northern Europe like the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, Germany and the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Lawmakers, diplomats and officials regularly move between the cities for meetings.<\/p>\n
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The Luxembourg meeting comes a day after 60 nations sent representatives to a Palestinian peace conference in Brussels with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa and Bulgarian diplomat Nikolay Mladenov, who heads the Board of Peace set up by U.S. President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
The EU diplomats gathered in Luxembourg called for diplomacy on Iran as a ceasefire struck between Tehran and Washington that began April 8 was to expire Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Kallas, the foreign policy chief, warned that if the fighting resumes, “it will come at a very large cost for all.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also announced that EU foreign ministers agreed Tuesday on new sanctions on Iranian officials responsible for obstructing freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf.<\/p>\n
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\u201cFreedom of navigation is non-negotiable. Daily U-turns where the Strait of Hormuz is open or closed, are reckless. Transit through the strait must remain free of charge,\u201d Kallas said.<\/p>\n
She did not elaborate on the sanctions or name the targeted officials.<\/p>\n
Germany\u2019s foreign minister called on Iran to send negotiators to Islamabad to meet with U.S. negotiators.<\/p>\n
\u201cIran should now take this outstretched hand in the interest of its own people,\u201d Johann Wadephul said.<\/p>\n
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The war in Iran has throttled global oil and gas markets and rattled the EU as a major importer of energy.<\/p>\n