Slovenian Prime Minister welcomes Brussels proposal to sanction Israel
Ljubljana – The Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob welcomed the fact that the European Commission is clear in its position that Israel is violating the human rights of Palestinians. He expects that EU member states will approve the Commission’s proposal for a partial suspension of Israel’s participation in the European research and innovation program Horizon Europe.
“The European Commission is finally clear in its position that Israel systematically and extensively violates the human rights of Palestinians and thus clearly breaches the fundamental principles of cooperation between the EU and Israel. We expect that member states will approve the proposal for a partial suspension of Israel’s participation in the Horizon Europe program with a qualified majority,” Golob said.
The Prime Minister also assured that Slovenia will continue to strive for “even more decisive measures against the Israeli government.”
The European Commission on Monday proposed a partial suspension of Israel’s participation in the EU research and innovation program Horizon Europe due to human rights violations in Gaza. The measure concerns the participation of Israeli companies in the European Innovation Council (EIC), aimed at promoting breakthrough innovations.
According to sources, the Commission presented the proposal for a partial suspension of Israel’s participation in the program to EU member states today, but they have not yet made a decision on it.
For the measure to be adopted, it must be supported by a qualified majority of member states in the EU Council. This is achieved if 15 out of a total of 27 countries, representing at least 65 percent of the total EU population, vote in favor of the proposal.
Slovenia is considered one of the loudest advocates for EU action against Israel for violating the human rights of Palestinians. Since the EU has not acted, in mid-July it declared two Israeli ministers as undesirable persons. (July 29)
