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