The Left group in the European Parliament has tabled a package of amendments to the Parliament's draft recommendation for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, fundamentally redirecting the text's focus on the Middle East. The amendments, submitted on 12 May 2026 to the report by rapporteur Andrey Kovatchev, replace condemnation of Iran with explicit criticism of Israel and the United States, and call for concrete punitive measures including suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and a halt to all arms exports to Israel.
The amendments represent the only proposed changes to the report, which is scheduled for a plenary vote. The original text, drafted by the centre-right European People's Party, emphasises Iran's destabilising role and its proxies. The Left's amendments delete references to Iran and instead condemn "attacks by the United States and Israel" as a "deliberate violation of international law." They also accuse Israeli forces of "indiscriminate attacks against civilian populations and infrastructure" that "may amount to war crimes," and denounce the blockade of humanitarian aid as potentially constituting "starvation as a method of war."
Policy orientations and trade-offs The amendments introduce new paragraphs highlighting attacks on civilian objects such as schools and hospitals, and the killing of children, framing these as serious violations of international humanitarian law. The most impactful change is the demand to "suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement" and to "halt all arms exports to Israel," citing the risk of complicity in war crimes and genocide. These are binding, actionable measures that go far beyond the original text's diplomatic language of "taking note" of a UN Security Council resolution. The trade-off is a sharpening of the EU's stance on Israel at the expense of the original geopolitical framing that balanced criticism of Iran and its proxies.
Impact on stakeholders If adopted, the amendments would have significant consequences for several stakeholders. EU foreign policy coherence would be tested, as the Council would face pressure to implement sanctions that divide member states. EU-Israel relations would deteriorate, potentially affecting trade and scientific cooperation under the Association Agreement. EU defence industries exporting arms to Israel would face a ban, impacting their revenues and supply chains. Conversely, Palestinian civilians and humanitarian organisations would benefit from increased pressure on Israel to allow aid and cease hostilities. The amendments also signal a stronger EU commitment to international law, which could bolster the EU's credibility in multilateral forums but risk alienating the United States and Israel.
Expected institutional follow-up The amendments will be debated in plenary and put to a vote. The original report, drafted by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, is likely to be supported by the centre-right and centrist groups, making adoption of The Left's amendments unlikely. However, the amendments serve to highlight the deep ideological split between The Left and other groups on the root causes of instability in the Middle East and the appropriate EU response. The final text will be adopted by the European Parliament and transmitted to the Council and the European External Action Service as a recommendation for the EU's engagement at the UN General Assembly.
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