European Union foreign ministers convened in Copenhagen, Denmark, on August 30, 2025, to discuss potential measures against Israel concerning the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The meeting highlighted significant internal disagreements among member states regarding the appropriate course of action.
A key proposal on the table was the suspension of EU funding to Israeli start-ups as an initial punitive step. However, this initiative faced considerable opposition, particularly from Germany and Italy, nations with strong diplomatic and economic ties with Israel. Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, expressed pessimism about reaching a consensus, stating, "I'm not very optimistic, and today we are definitely not going to adopt decisions." She added that the division "sends a signal that we are divided."
The humanitarian situation in Gaza was described as dire, with the United Nations reporting famine. Spain's Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, was a strong advocate for decisive action, presenting a plan to halt the famine and impose further sanctions on entities hindering a two-state solution. His proposals included measures to cease arms supplies to Israel and bolster financial support for the Palestinian Authority to prevent its economic collapse.
Despite calls for stronger measures, the EU remained fragmented. While countries such as France, Spain, Ireland, and the Netherlands supported restricting Israeli access to EU research programs, nations like Germany and Italy did not endorse such actions. This disunity has hampered the EU's ability to formulate a cohesive stance, challenging the balance between diplomatic relationships with Israel and commitments to human rights and humanitarian aid.
A proposal from the European Commission to curb Israeli access to the EU's Horizon Europe research funding program, aimed at Israeli start-ups in fields like drone technology and artificial intelligence, failed to secure the necessary support from member states. This situation underscores a broader debate within the EU about leveraging economic and research ties as tools for diplomatic pressure in response to humanitarian crises.