STORY: Spain, Slovenia and Ireland have asked the EU to discuss the suspension of its association treaty with Israel, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Tuesday (April 21) ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

"Spain, along with Slovenia and Ireland, has requested that the suspension of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Israel be discussed and debated today", Albares said.

When asked if Germany would be willing to support such a suspension, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul responded that his government would consider this "to be inappropriate."

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Spain, Slovenia, Ireland ask EU to discuss suspension of Israel association treaty

VIDEO SHOWS: EU TRANSPORT MINISTERS ARRIVING FOR INFORMAL MEETING

COMPLETE SCRIPT TO FOLLOWRESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: LUXEMBOURG, LUXEMBOURG (APRIL 21, 2026) (EUROPEAN UNION - Access all)

1. SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER JOSE MANUEL ALBARES SPEAKING

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER JOSE MANUEL ALBARES SAYING:

"Spain, together with Slovenia and Ireland, has requested that today there be a discussion and debate on the suspension of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Israel, based on Article Two, which states that the European Union can only have a relationship with Israel on the basis of respect for human rights."

3. WHITE FLASH

4. (SOUNDBITE) (French) BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MAXIME PREVOT SAYING:

"Israel’s attitude is completely unacceptable. Of course, the initial attacks by Hezbollah must be firmly condemned, as, in seeking to show solidarity with Iran, it has dragged Lebanon into a war it did not want. Israel’s disproportionate and indiscriminate response is deeply problematic and condemnable. I can only welcome the fact that, finally, after so many decades, direct dialogue can take place between the Israeli and Lebanese authorities, and this was a message that I shared with the President of Lebanon."

5. FLAGS

6. JOURNALIST ASKING (German): "To what extent is the federal government prepared and able to support such demands and possibly enable such sanctions?"

(SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER JOHANN WADEPHUL SAYING:

"We consider something like that to be inappropriate. Nevertheless, of course, one must engage in dialogue with Israel about the critical issues."

7. FLAGS