Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001532/2025/rev.1
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 144
Cecilia Strada (S&D), Marco Tarquinio (S&D), Leoluca Orlando (Verts/ALE), Ilaria Salis (The Left), Rudi Kennes (The Left), Thijs Reuten (S&D), Nikos Pappas (The Left), Daniel Attard (S&D), Carola Rackete (The Left), Marc Botenga (The Left), Hanna Gedin (The Left), Jonas Sjöstedt (The Left), Evin Incir (S&D), Sandra Gómez López (S&D), Annalisa Corrado (S&D), Sandro Ruotolo (S&D), Pierre Jouvet (S&D), Marta Temido (S&D), Damien Carême (The Left), Marit Maij (S&D), Rima Hassan (The Left), Chloé Ridel (S&D), Alex Agius Saliba (S&D), Brando Benifei (S&D), Mounir Satouri (Verts/ALE), Jaume Asens Llodrà (Verts/ALE), Tilly Metz (Verts/ALE), Rasmus Nordqvist (Verts/ALE), Villy Søvndal (Verts/ALE), Mélissa Camara (Verts/ALE), Catarina Vieira (Verts/ALE), David Cormand (Verts/ALE), Tineke Strik (Verts/ALE), Majdouline Sbai (Verts/ALE), Benedetta Scuderi (Verts/ALE)
On 9 March 2025, new Israeli legislation on registration and visa issuance for international NGOs came into effect[1]. Both Israeli and international observers note that these provisions are aimed at denying access to international NGOs providing assistance to the Palestinian population[2]. Visa requirements are now purposely vague and thus highly discretionary, with the registration applications of international NGOs being evaluated solely by government officials. Consequently, this legislation risks becoming a tool for silencing government critics.
The Knesset is also considering further financial and operational restrictions for internationally funded NGOs[3], including an 80 % tax on international donations and barring access to justice for NGOs relying on foreign funding.
These repressive policies will likely obstruct the delivery of humanitarian aid and welfare services to Palestinians. While the EU allocates EUR 1.5 billion for Palestinian assistance, Israel’s policies threaten the operations of many EU-funded humanitarian actors[4].
Taking into account Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement:
- 1.Was the new Israeli legislation on international NGOs discussed at the latest EU-Israel Association Council meeting? If so, what was the outcome of the discussion?
- 2.Will the Commission propose the suspension of the Association Agreement if international NGOs are forbidden access to the Occupied Palestinian Territories?
Supporters[5]
Submitted: 15.4.2025
- [1] https://www.gov.il/he/pages/dec2542-2024
- [2] Inter alia: https://gisha.org/en/ngos-in-israel-condemn-an-israeli-government-decision-designed-to-deny-registration-and-work-visas-to-international-humanitarian-organizations/; https://www.focsiv.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Dossier-Informativo-questione-registrazione-in-Israele.pdf; https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/implementation-new-israeli-ngo-registration-and-visa-regulations
- [3] S. Sokol, Ministers advance bill levying 80% tax on foreign state funding of Israeli NGOs, The times of Israel, 16 February 2025, https://www.timesofisrael.com/ministers-vote-to-back-bill-levying-80-tax-on-foreign-state-funding-of-israeli-ngos/
- [4] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-humanitarian-support-to-palestinians/
- [5] This question is supported by Members other than the authors: Cristina Guarda (Verts/ALE), Matjaž Nemec (S&D)