José Manuel Albares leads the adoption of an urgent plan of action for Gaza and Palestine

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, addresses the press after meeting with his European counterparts in Copenhagen

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has defended before his European counterparts the adoption of a document of urgent measures to put an end to the violence in the Middle East. According to the minister, "the EU is doing too little too late. The time for declarations is over, we have to act".

The action plan presented by Spain, under the title "Non-paper of urgent measures to stop the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza", begins with the embargo on the sale of arms and dual-use technology to Israel, "which Spain was the first to adopt and which is already a legally binding obligation for all member states", the minister stressed.

Urgent measures

In the words of Albares, "Spain is putting forward an action plan with proposals that are nothing extraordinary, they simply represent compliance with the European Union's own legislation". The Spanish non-paper, sent by letter to EU High Representative Kaja Kallas and other European ministers, calls on all states to comply with the decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union and the International Court of Justice, which require an end to trade in products from illegal settlements and the occupied territories.

The urgent action plan includes the immediate suspension of cooperation programmes with Israel, such as Horizon, scientific-technical cooperation, or investments through NDICI-Global Europe, on the basis of compliance with the provisions of respect for human rights and humanitarian law that set the framework for cooperation with the country. "The European Union can only engage with Israel through human rights. And if there is a massive violation, as the Commission's report has clearly indicated, we must act", added Albares, who once again called for the total suspension of the Association Agreement with Israel, for failing to comply with article 2, and encouraged the Commission to propose a partial suspension of those chapters not related to common security, such as trade.

Strengthening humanitarian actors for peace

The package of urgent measures presented also proposes effective support for civil society in Israel and Palestine that promotes respect for humanitarian law and peace, as well as a programme for coordination between humanitarian actors active in Gaza and the West Bank to enable them to access and distribute humanitarian aid.

The minister stressed that the only solution to achieve peace in the region is the implementation of the two-state solution, "with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security". To this end, Albares argued that "we must establish a realistic and viable Palestinian state, with Gaza and the West Bank under a single Palestinian Authority, connected to each other and with an outlet to the sea, and with its capital in East Jerusalem".

Among Spain's proposals is financial support for the Palestinian National Authority, which "is our interlocutor for peace and for the two-state solution in the Palestinian camp", the minister concluded.

Continued support for Ukraine

Also in Copenhagen, Albares shared Spain's commitment to continue increasing pressure and supporting restrictive measures on Russia, as well as to continue providing all the support pledged to Ukraine for as long as necessary to exercise its legitimate defence.

Minister Albares strongly condemned the attacks in Kyiv this week and expressed support for peace efforts to stop the fighting and attacks. "Ukrainians and Europeans want peace, and we are united and determined around the parameters of a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and for Europe as a whole," reaffirmed Albares. "It is essential that Ukraine and the Europeans are at the table in any peace negotiations".

Non official translation