Brussels-based civil servants are increasingly clashing with the European Commission over the EU's stance on Israel. A growing number of employees claim that the EU's inaction towards Israel, which is accused of war crimes in Gaza, prevents them from fulfilling their duties without violating EU law and international law, according to a report by Politico.

"The EU institutions are forcing employees to become complicit and are violating moral and legal obligations, suppressing conscientious resistance, and hindering meaningful action," said one official, Ramona, to Politico.

Criticism of the EU's inaction towards Israel: The European diplomatic service has accused Israel of violating human rights under the EU-Israel trade agreement and has proposed suspending preferential trade relations and the Horizon program. However, European leaders have not supported these measures, which critics say is a disregard for the EU's own treaties.

The Commission maintains that foreign policy is the responsibility of the member states. , a spokesperson, described the protests as political and urged employees to act "impartially, loyally, and neutrally." According to her, officials can use internal mechanisms, such as letters or dialogue with unions, but the workplace is not a place for activism. Sharing internal correspondence publicly is prohibited, and the Commission will strictly enforce any breaches of duty.

Protesters question the effectiveness of internal mechanisms. Since July, 1,500 out of 32,000 EU employees have signed an open letter, warning of an "exponential" increase in deaths in Gaza due to starvation if the EU does not increase pressure on Israel to allow humanitarian aid.

Some officials are considering industrial action to force the EU to adopt a more assertive stance. However, the unions are divided, and protesters are concerned about the legal and professional consequences. Some believe that a strike could be legally justified as an attempt to enforce compliance with international human rights.

An internal letter from the EU Staff for Peace group, obtained by Politico, accuses management of using "intimidation" tactics: mistreatment by security personnel, unjustified termination of contracts, and a ban on a pro-Palestinian petition. In one case, seven officials wearing shirts that said "Say no to genocide" were escorted out of the Europa cafeteria, where they were subjected to physical assault and forced to delete videos.

The letter mentions the non-renewal of contracts for protesters, forced resignations, and the presence of Israeli Colonel Moshe Tetro, who is accused of war crimes, at the Commission headquarters on June 25. Podestà denied any intimidation, while a spokesperson for the European Council described the protests as "political." Employees insist that their activities are not political, but that they simply want the EU to uphold its treaties and international law. "The EU is supposed to promote peace globally, which is enshrined in our guidelines," said another official to Politico. "The problem is that the EU is not living up to its principles."

According to the newspaper The Guardian, the protests reflect a broader dissatisfaction with the EU's inaction on human rights issues. The European External Action Service (EEAS) is facing criticism for its weak pressure for sanctions against Israel, despite its assessments indicating violations of international humanitarian law. "The EU's inaction is jeopardizing its credibility," said an anonymous diplomat. The Russian news agency TASS reported that the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs views the protests as evidence of "internal contradictions within the EU." "The protests show that even within the bloc, there is recognition of the inconsistency of its policy towards Israel," a spokesperson stated. TASS highlights the concerns of European diplomats regarding the ongoing trade relations with Israel, but notes that these measures are being blocked by countries such as Germany and Hungary.

Politico/gnews.cz - GH