European Parliament Questions EU's Arms Export Policy to Israel

Despite serious violations of international humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the EU continues to export arms and military technology to Israel. The European Parliament has raised concerns over the compatibility of this policy with the EU's obligations under the Common Foreign and Security Policy. Members have requested clarification on the application of the Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP and the reassessment of licences and military cooperation programs with Israel.

Key Takeaways:

• The Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP sets binding criteria for granting arms export licences, including Criterion Two on compliance with international humanitarian law and Criterion Six on the recipient country's behaviour.
• Members of the European Parliament have raised concerns that the export of arms and military technology to Israel is incompatible with the EU's obligations under the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
• The EU is required to apply the Council Common Position's criteria to military agreements and transfers of technology from third countries, in line with Articles 21 and 24 of the Treaty on European Union and Article 205 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
• The Commission has not indicated whether it plans to recommend the reassessment of licences and military cooperation programs with Israel under Article 5 of the Council Common Position.
• The question was submitted by Members Danilo Della Valle, Mimmo Lucano, Carolina Morace, Cecilia Strada, Brando Benifei, Leoluca Orlando, Alessandro Zan, and Dario Tamburrano, all from the Left and Social Democratic Groups.
• The question has been updated with the support of Cristina Guarda from the Green/EFA Group.

Statistics:

• 2008: The year the Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP was adopted, setting binding criteria for granting arms export licences.
• 2: The number of Criteria in the Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP that apply to the recipient country's compliance with international humanitarian law and behaviour.
• 6: The number of Criteria in the Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP that apply to the behaviour of the recipient country.
• 1: The number of question submitted to the Commission by Members of the European Parliament.
• 9: The number of Members that submitted the question, including the original authors and Cristina Guarda from the Green/EFA Group.

Sources:

• European Parliament Question for written answer E-002559/2025
• Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP
• Treaty on European Union
• Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union