High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas, in a 22 June 2026 answer to a parliamentary question, reiterated the EU's longstanding opposition to capital punishment and expressed deep concern over the discriminatory character of Israel's new Death Penalty Bill, while noting that the Commission has already suspended most bilateral funding to Israel. The answer, responding to a question from The Left MEP Konstantinos Arvanitis, confirms the EU's position that the law marks a grave regression from Israel's previous de facto moratorium on executions and from its international obligations. Kallas pointed to the EU statement of 31 March 2026 condemning the bill and said she had raised the issue directly with the Israeli Foreign Minister. The answer also references the September 2025 State of the Union address, in which Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced measures following a Member State-backed review of potential violations of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. As a result, the Commission has suspended most bilateral funding to Israel, with exceptions for civil society and Yad Vashem. Additional measures requiring Member State approval are under discussion in the Council.
The answer does not provide new concrete proposals or numerical targets, instead reaffirming existing positions and actions. The EU's stance aligns with prior condemnations by the Council of Europe and the UN, and the Commission's funding suspension represents a tangible step already taken, though further measures remain pending Council approval.