Germany’s support is seen as critical, the diplomats said, and Berlin is growing closer to supporting such a sanction against Israel, amid harrowing reports from Gaza of Palestinians suffering starvation and violence.
But German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has not yet given his backing to launching the EU’s sanction.
Work on the Horizon suspension proposal will continue with officials in Brussels looking to win more support for the plan in the coming days and weeks. There is a chance that with staff in the EU’s institutions and embassies taking vacations in August a final decision may not be reached until after the summer, the diplomats said.