According to investigative site Mediapart, the EU has yet to vote on the proposal to suspend the trade and cooperation agreement with Israel, which has been in force since 2000. The deal’s Article 2 obliges both parties to uphold human rights — conditions that left-wing groups and NGOs claim Israel has violated on at least 30 counts.

While legally feasible, suspension requires unanimity among EU members — a difficult task given opposition from countries such as Italy, Austria, Romania, and Hungary. Germany has also shown reluctance, with leading conservative figures defending Israel as a "strategic ally."

In France, the Macron administration remains hesitant. "The position is very unclear," said Sabrina Sebaihi, deputy head of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the National Assembly. The government, she added, is torn between its stated commitments and geopolitical realities.

Civil Society And International Pressure

Leftist blocs including “Freedom and Overseas Territories” have aligned with Ireland, Spain, and the Netherlands, which are pressing for an EU-wide suspension. “To stop a genocide, we need clear decisions,” said MP Gabrielle Catala.

Civil society groups — including the League for Human Rights and France-Palestine Solidarity — sent an open letter to Macron, demanding France publicly back the suspension and fulfill its responsibility to prevent impunity for Israel’s leadership, notably Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Alternative measures are also on the table, such as targeted sanctions on Israeli officials, trade restrictions, or halting other forms of cooperation.

However, Macron fears backlash from Washington. Sanctioning Israel could upset U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, further complicating EU diplomacy at a time when France is already seen as weakened within the bloc. Still, some lawmakers argue that neutrality is no longer tenable.