De-escalation is the only path – the EU must act accordingly

On Friday, June 13th, the world woke up to an open war between Israel and Iran, as Israel unilaterally attacked nuclear facilities, military installations, and the military and political leadership of Iran. Iran recognised these attacks as a declaration of war and retaliated with waves of missiles and drones. Since then, residential areas have been hit in both countries and the lives and livelihoods of ordinary people destroyed. Our hearts go out to all who now suffer from the fear, uncertainty and loss that this war causes. In the light of this suffering, the G7 summit with Trump leaving early demonstrated painfully the incapacity of global leaders to act coherently towards peace and global stability.  

Israel’s attack was an irresponsible violation of international law that plunged the region into further disarray, with the very real risk of greater escalation looming over the Middle East. The targeting of nuclear facilities must never be normalised, given the risks to the environment and civilian population that come with the possible release of radioactive material. The official complaints from Iraq about Israeli aircraft violating Iraqi sovereign airspace, and Jordan's need to safeguard its own airspace by shooting down Iranian missiles and drones, highlight the dangers for other countries in the Middle East that result from  Israeli and Iranian military actions. The EU and its Member States must do everything in their power to find de-escalatory paths that end this war.

Condemning Israel’s attack as a gross violation of international law does not signal support for Iran’s nuclear programme or its regime. According to the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran is in violation of its obligations regarding the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, and its enrichment programme is, in the words of the IAEA, “unprecedented” for countries with non-military nuclear technology, which is of serious concern. However, starting a war does not serve the purpose of the non-proliferation treaty. On the contrary, the Israeli attack has collapsed the ongoing negotiations on the Iranian nuclear programme in Oman and serves the Iranian Regime’s claim that Iran needs nuclear capabilities to deter attacks by Israel and the US.

Times of war are times of eroding civil freedoms and increased repression against critical voices. As such, we call upon the EU to support Iranian civil rights activists and regime critics by implementing simplified visa procedures, suspending all deportations of Iranian asylum seekers, and providing meaningful support for VPN providers to enable internet access in Iran.

We must not let the war distract us from the intolerable situation in Gaza, where Israeli policies have forced the Palestinian population into starvation. An immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, comprehensive humanitarian aid, and the release of all hostages are needed more than ever, and our demand to initiate the suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement remains unchanged.

A world where the violation of one international treaty is met with another violation of international law will become a world of international lawlessness, where war and devastation will replace diplomacy and de-escalation efforts. It will not be a world where international frameworks of global security, such as the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, will be respected and upheld. The EU cannot stay passive, watching this world materialise. 

In summary, we call on the EU and its Member States

• to convene an extraordinary EU Foreign Affairs Council to develop and commit to a common EU foreign policy that enables the EU and its Member States to act decisively towards non-escalation, cushioning the effects of an increasingly erratic US foreign policy. 

• to not become militarily involved, which would undermine any credibility of the EU as a mediator. 

• to defend international law in all its aspects, explicitly condemning the Israeli attacks as a violation of international law, while being a clear proponent of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, and, as such, oppose Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.

• to support Arab countries such as Oman in their efforts to mediate and reduce tensions.

• to uphold and increase the pressure on Israel to comply with its obligations under international law in Gaza and beyond, and to initiate the suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement.

• to support critical voices in Iran and signal to Iran that excessive repression against political opponents will be met with tightened sanctions.

Image: Reuters

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