TFI Press Release
TFI Statement on EU Court of Justice Decision on Labeling
STATEMENT
Brussels, 12 November 2019
EU Court of Justice Decision on Labeling
We acknowledge today’s EU Court of Justice decision on EU labeling requirements for foodstuffs originating from beyond the 1948 Green Line.
Within the context of growing antisemitism and hatred towards Israel, we are concerned that labeling plays into the hands of those who seek to isolate and demonize the only Jewish state. The boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement, whose founders openly reject the right of Israel to exist, will no doubt try exploit this ruling to further its bigoted goals.
We, members of the Transatlantic Friends of Israel, thus urge the European Commission and EU Member States to unambiguously denounce the antisemitic BDS movement as incompatible with our values and interests. Now more than ever it’s necessary for Europe to set a positive agenda with our key ally and only true democracy in the region.
The EU must therefore immediately
1) Set a date for an Association Council with Israel, which – incredibly – hasn’t been convened since 2012,
2) Upgrade and update the EU-Israel Association Agreement from the year 2000,
3) Finally agree on Partnership Priorities in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy.
These steps are in the mutual interest of the EU and Israel. Advancing this positive bilateral agenda would not simply be a favor to the Jewish state, as is sometimes erroneously contended. On the contrary, European citizens and consumers stand to gain significantly from forging closer ties with Israel, a global leader in innovation and critical security partner in the Southern Neighborhood.
MEP Lukas MANDL, EPP
Chair, Transatlantic Friends of Israel
MEP Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS, Renew Europe
Vice Chair, Transatlantic Friends of Israel
MEP Frédérique RIES, Renew Europe
Vice Chair, Transatlantic Friends of Israel
MEP Anna-Michelle ASIMAKOPOULOU, EPP
Vice Chair, Transatlantic Friends of Israel
MEP Alexandr VONDRA, ECR
Vice Chair, Transatlantic Friends of Israel
MEP Witold Jan WASZCZYKOWSKI, ECR
MEP Andrius KUBILIUS, EPP
MEP Javier ZARZALEJOS, EPP
MEP Stefan BERGER, EPP
MEP Anna FOTYGA, ECR
MEP Veronika VRECIONOVÁ, ECR
MEP Geoffrey VAN ORDEN, ECR
MEP Karol KARSKI, ECR
MEP Bert-Jan RUISSEN, ECR