Amendments tabled by the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) Group to the European Parliament's draft recommendation for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly explicitly condemn the United States and Israel for actions undermining international law and the UN Charter, and call for targeted sanctions against Israel and an International Criminal Court (ICC) referral for Iran. The amendments, published on 12 May 2026 as part of the report by rapporteur Andrey Kovatchev (EPP), reposition the EU as a more assertive defender of multilateralism in the face of perceived disengagement by traditional allies.
The six amendments introduce several politically charged changes. Amendment 29 names President Donald Trump for "openly attacking the United Nations system," while Amendment 31 states that attacks by the "United States and Israel" are "incompatible with international law and the principles of the UN Charter" — a direct legal challenge to their military actions in the Middle East. Amendment 30 reinforces the text to stress that the EU "must assume greater responsibility" for supporting multilateral institutions when "traditional allies disengage," framing the EU as a primary guarantor of the system.
Further amendments escalate accountability measures. Amendment 32 urges the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Iran to the ICC, seeking international criminal jurisdiction over the conflict's regional dimension. Amendment 33 calls for the EU to "work actively to adopt targeted UNSC restrictive measures" against Israel for settlement expansion and violence, moving beyond condemnation to concrete punitive action. Amendment 34 removes conditional language on UNRWA, replacing "noting that no viable alternative currently exists" with the absolute "noting that no viable alternative exists," offering unconditional backing.
As only the S&D Group has tabled amendments, a comparison of group positions is limited. However, the content implies a clear divergence from centrist or right-leaning groups (EPP, ECR, PfE) who would likely resist direct criticism of the US and Israel. The S&D amendments prioritize the primacy of international law over alliance solidarity, advocating for the EU to fill a leadership vacuum left by the US. This contrasts with groups that might prioritize transatlantic unity or take a more cautious approach to sanctioning Israel.
Stakeholder impact: EU foreign policy institutions face pressure to adopt a more confrontational stance toward the US and Israel, potentially straining transatlantic relations. EU member states with strong pro-Israel or pro-US orientations would face diplomatic dilemmas if sanctions or ICC referrals are pursued. Israeli and Iranian authorities would face increased international legal and political scrutiny. The UN system and ICC would gain stronger EU backing but risk politicisation if perceived as targeting specific states. The amendments are expected to be debated in the Foreign Affairs Committee before a plenary vote on the final recommendation.