2023-06-202022/23:UU10 · p.11UUForeign affairs
Israel
EU relations with Israel: association agreement and sanctions
What's at stake: The outcome affects the EU's diplomatic and economic ties with Israel and the Union's leverage regarding the occupation, the settlements and the blockade of Gaza, which affects both Israelis and Palestinians.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether Sweden should oppose deepened EU cooperation with Israel, work for the association agreement to be suspended and for sanctions including an arms embargo, or whether current engagement should continue unchanged.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee considers that Sweden's and the EU's ongoing engagement in the peace process already covers the issues raised in the motions, and does not see grounds for halting cooperation with Israel or introducing sanctions, and therefore rejects the motions.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 15 (V, MP)
The reservation calls for the government to oppose any deepening of EU cooperation with Israel and to work for the EU's association agreement with Israel to be suspended for as long as the settlements and checkpoints in occupied territory remain, the blockade of Gaza continues, and the wall in the West Bank is being built. The reservation also calls for the government to push for EU sanctions against Israel, including an arms embargo, as leverage against the continued occupation.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 15 by V, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | Yes | Yes 94/0/0/13 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | Yes | Yes 19/0/1/4 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| L | Yes | Yes 14/0/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | Yes | Yes 16/0/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/8 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | Yes | Yes 62/0/0/10 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
Broke with the party line
| CAnna Lasses (C, Stockholms län) | Abstain — party line: Yes |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2022/23:1455 by Jacob Risberg and Bassem Nasr (both MP) claim 3 and 2022/23:2364 by Håkan Svenneling et al. (V) claims 23-25.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:1455 av Jacob Risberg och Bassem Nasr (båda MP) yrkande 3 och 2022/23:2364 av Håkan Svenneling m.fl. (V) yrkandena 23-25.
Riksdag decision: Parliament directed a call, a so-called formal request (tillkännagivande), to the government to actively work to create unity within the EU to list the state-backed Russian so-called Wagner group as a terrorist organization under the EU's terrorist sanctions. In connection with the formal request, Parliament also highlights that there is likely a need to upgrade the EU's rules for terrorist listing so that it better can meet threats from actors with state connections. According to current rules, terrorist listing requires that a group is subject to legal proceedings for terrorist crimes. There must thus be an ongoing or concluded legal process. The formal request came in connection with Parliament's consideration of a communication from the government on activities in the European Union during 2022 with accompanying motions, including on sanctions against Russia. Parliament rejected the motions and filed the communication, that is, closed the case.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the EU to set binding climate targets of 70% reduced emissions by 2030 and zero emissions by 2040. (V, MP) — Reservation 15
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan requires an independent foreign policy that dares challenge the EU and where international law and human rights are guiding, and that international law is defended when national independence is undermined.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires an independent foreign policy that dares challenge the EU and where international law and human rights are guiding, and that international law is defended when national independence is undermined. It also establishes that Swedish arms exports shall be phased out, which carries an arms embargo. To oppose deepened EU cooperation with Israel, work for the association agreement to be suspended and push for sanctions against the occupation is in line with this.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver en självständig utrikespolitik som vågar utmana EU och där folkrätten och de mänskliga rättigheterna är vägledande, och att folkrätten försvaras när nationellt oberoende undergrävs. Den slår också fast att svensk vapenexport ska avvecklas, vilket bär ett vapenembargo. Att motsätta sig fördjupat EU-samarbete med Israel, verka för att associeringsavtalet suspenderas och driva på för sanktioner mot ockupationen ligger i linje med detta.
- international law and HR guidingdecisive»Sverige ska föra en självständig utrikespolitik där demokrati, respekt för folkrätten och de mänskliga rättigheterna« (party programme ↗)“Sweden should conduct an independent foreign policy where democracy, respect for international law and human rights”
- against occupation»det nationella oberoendet undergrävs och det generella förbudet mot« (party programme ↗)“national independence is undermined and the general prohibition against”
- arms embargo»vapenexport ska avvecklas.« (party programme ↗)“arms exports shall be phased out.”
- deepen international law»Folkrätten, den internationella rättsliga praxis som reglerar förhållandet mellan stater, måste försvaras och fördjupas.« (party programme ↗)“International law, the international legal practice regulating relations between states, must be defended and deepened.”
The plan takes no position on Israel or on suspension of the EU's association agreement.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan takes no position on Israel or on suspension of the EU's association agreement. The nearest-lying line is that Sweden shall be a mediator, bridge-builder and dialogue partner in international conflicts and stand up for international law within the EU and the UN, and value open trade. Categorical demands for broken cooperation, suspension and arms embargo lie outside that line, why the plan rejects the demands, although with weak foundation.
Original (Swedish)
Planen tar inte ställning till Israel eller till suspendering av EU:s associeringsavtal. Närmast liggande linje är att Sverige ska vara medlare, brobyggare och samtalspartner i internationella konflikter och stå upp för folkrätten inom EU och FN, samt värna öppen handel. Kategoriska krav på avbrutet samarbete, suspendering och vapenembargo ligger utanför den linjen, varför planen avvisar kraven, om än med svagt underlag.
- mediator and bridge-builderdecisive»Sverige ska fortsätta att spela en aktiv roll som medlare, brobyggare och samtalspartner vid« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall continue to play an active role as mediator, bridge-builder and dialogue partner at”
- international law as foundation»Vi har en lång historia av att stå upp för folkrätten, solidaritet, nedrustning, demokrati och jämställdhet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We have a long history of standing up for international law, solidarity, disarmament, democracy and equality.”
- open trade»Vi står upp för en öppen, fri och rättvis handel.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We stand up for an open, free and fair trade.”
The plan places international law and human rights at the center of foreign policy and requires that the EU's sanctions system for human rights violations is developed.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan places international law and human rights at the center of foreign policy and requires that the EU's sanctions system for human rights violations is developed. The party programme also requires that the export of war material to countries in armed conflict or where serious human rights violations occur is abolished, which carries the demand for a weapons embargo. Conditioning deeper cooperation on the end of occupation follows from human rights being put first in the EU's foreign policy.
Original (Swedish)
Planen sätter folkrätten och de mänskliga rättigheterna i centrum för utrikespolitiken och kräver att EU:s sanktionssystem mot brott mot mänskliga rättigheter utvecklas. Partiprogrammet kräver dessutom att export av krigsmateriel till länder i väpnad konflikt eller där grova kränkningar av mänskliga rättigheter förekommer avskaffas, vilket bär kravet på vapenembargo. Att villkora fördjupat samarbete med ockupationens upphörande följer av att mänskliga rättigheter ska sättas i första rummet i EU:s utrikespolitik.
- international law at the centerdecisive»Miljöpartiet de gröna sätter folkrätten och de« (party programme ↗)“The Green Party puts international law and”
- weapons embargo for human rights violations»befinner sig i väpnad konflikt eller där grova och« (party programme ↗)“are in armed conflict or where serious”
- developed sanctions»unionen, och sanktionssystemet behöver utvecklas.« (party programme ↗)“the union, and the sanctions system needs to be developed.”
- human rights first in EU foreign policy»Mänskliga rättigheter, fredlig konflikthantering och en konfliktförebyggande politik« (party programme ↗)“Human rights, peaceful conflict management and a conflict-prevention policy”
The plan builds its foreign policy on dialogue, cooperation and free trade and rejects protectionism and closed borders, with demands in agreements as a tool rather than broken cooperation.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan builds its foreign policy on dialogue, cooperation and free trade and rejects protectionism and closed borders, with demands in agreements as a tool rather than broken cooperation. To oppose all deepened cooperation, suspend the association agreement and push for arms embargo goes against that line. The plan does not address the conflict, so the position rests on the closest lying principle.
Original (Swedish)
Planen bygger sin utrikespolitik på dialog, samarbete och frihandel och avvisar protektionism och stängda gränser, med krav i avtalen som verktyg snarare än avbrutet samarbete. Att motsätta sig allt fördjupat samarbete, suspendera associeringsavtalet och driva vapenembargo går emot den linjen. Planen behandlar inte konflikten, varför ställningstagandet vilar på närmast liggande princip.
- dialogue and cooperationdecisive»Dagens internationella ekonomiska beroende ökar betydelsen av fredsinsatser, samarbete och dialog.« (party programme ↗)“Today's international economic interdependence increases the importance of peace efforts, cooperation and dialogue.”
- free trade and cooperation»Sverige behöver mer frihandel och internationellt samarbete, inte protektionism och stängda gränser.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden needs more free trade and international cooperation, not protectionism and closed borders.”
- demands in agreements instead of breaking cooperation»Sverige klarar sig inte utan frihandel. Öppna upp fler marknader för svenska varor och tjänster. Ställ hårdare krav på arbetsvillkor, miljö och klimat i handelsavtal.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden cannot manage without free trade. Open more markets for Swedish goods and services. Make stricter demands on working conditions, environment and climate in trade agreements.”
- human rights as goal of foreign policy»Utrikes- och säkerhetspolitiken syftar ytterst till att värna universella mänskliga fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“Foreign and security policy ultimately aims to protect universal human rights and freedoms.”
The plan bases security and foreign policy on cooperation with other democracies and wants to deepen the EU as a free trade union with more agreements with the world; the arms export ban in the plan is directed at dictatorships.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan bases security and foreign policy on cooperation with other democracies and wants to deepen the EU as a free trade union with more agreements with the world; the arms export ban in the plan is directed at dictatorships. To suspend the EU's association agreement, stop all deepened cooperation, and introduce an arms embargo against Israel thereby goes against the plan's line. Israel is not addressed in the plan, which is why the position rests on these principles.
Original (Swedish)
Planen bygger säkerhets- och utrikespolitiken på samarbete med andra demokratier och vill fördjupa EU som frihandelsunion med fler avtal med omvärlden; vapenexportförbudet i planen riktas mot diktaturer. Att suspendera EU:s associeringsavtal, stoppa allt fördjupat samarbete och införa vapenembargo mot Israel går därmed emot planens linje. Israel behandlas inte i planen, varför ställningstagandet vilar på dessa principer.
- cooperation with democraciesdecisive»Grunden för Sveriges säkerhetspolitik ska vara samarbete med andra demokratier.« (party programme ↗)“The basis for Sweden's security policy shall be cooperation with other democracies.”
- more and deeper agreements»Vi ska stärka EU som frihandelsunion med en fördjupad inre marknad, värna den fria rörligheten i Europa och verka för fler frihandelsavtal med omvärlden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall strengthen the EU as a free trade union with a deepened internal market, protect free movement in Europe, and work for more free trade agreements with the world.”
- export ban directed at dictatorships»Sverige ska inte exportera vapen till diktaturer.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall not export weapons to dictatorships.”
- values-driven foreign policy»Målet med vår utrikespolitik är en friare värld för alla.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The goal of our foreign policy is a freer world for all.”
The plan prescribes that positive means such as dialogue, collaborative projects and financial support should be used first and that boycotts and sanctions are only a last resort.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan prescribes that positive means such as dialogue, collaborative projects and financial support should be used first and that boycotts and sanctions are only a last resort. Suspending the association agreement, opposing any deepened cooperation and driving a weapons embargo violates that order and contradicts the plan's emphasis on reconciliation as part of foreign policy.
Original (Swedish)
Planen föreskriver att positiva verkningsmedel som dialog, samarbetsprojekt och finansiellt stöd ska användas i första hand och att bojkott och sanktioner bara är en sista utväg. Att suspendera associeringsavtalet, motsätta sig allt fördjupat samarbete och driva vapenembargo bryter mot den ordningen och mot planens betoning av försoning som del av utrikespolitiken.
- dialogue before sanctionsdecisive»positiva verkningsmedel användas, som till exempel finansiellt stöd, samarbetsprojekt, samtal och dialoger för att främja mänskliga rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“positive means should be used, such as for example financial support, collaborative projects, talks and dialogues to promote human rights.”
- peace and reconciliation»Svensk utrikespolitik ska främja fred, frihet, demokrati och utveckling samt mänskliga rättigheter, förståelse och försoning.« (party programme ↗)“Swedish foreign policy should promote peace, freedom, democracy and development as well as human rights, understanding and reconciliation.”
- reconciliation between peoples»En viktig del av den internationella politiken är tanken om försoning mellan folkgrupper« (party programme ↗)“An important part of international politics is the idea of reconciliation between peoples”
- human rights as a foreign policy goal»Människovärdet ska stå i fokus och arbetet för att skydda och värna mänskliga fri- och rättigheter« (party programme ↗)“Human dignity should be in focus and the work to protect and safeguard human freedoms and rights”
The documents do not address Israel or the association agreement.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The documents do not address Israel or the association agreement. The closest relevant principles are that Sweden should build political and economic cooperation together with like-minded nations and that foreign policy should protect Swedish interests, which points against breaking off cooperation and imposing sanctions on a democracy. The conclusion is therefore derived and uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Dokumenten behandlar inte Israel eller associeringsavtalet. Närmast liggande principer är att Sverige ska bygga politiska och ekonomiska samarbeten tillsammans med likasinnade nationer och att utrikespolitiken ska värna svenska intressen, vilket talar mot att avbryta samarbete och införa sanktioner mot en demokrati. Slutsatsen är därför härledd och osäker.
- cooperation with like-minded nationsdecisive»Sverige ska fortsätta att tillsammans med likasinnade nationer« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall continue to together with like-minded nations”
- Swedish interests guideweak support»Svensk utrikespolitik ska värna svenska intressen.« (party programme ↗)“Swedish foreign policy shall protect Swedish interests.”
- strong voice for democracy»Sverige ska vara en stark röst för frihet, demokrati och« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be a strong voice for freedom, democracy and”
flags: citat_svagt
The election manifesto explicitly establishes that the relationship with Israel, as the only democracy in its region, should be re-established and maintained.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly establishes that the relationship with Israel, as the only democracy in its region, should be re-established and maintained. The plan directs the sanctions demand instead towards Turkey, Belarus, Russia and other countries with negative development. The counter-proposal's demand for suspended association agreement, stopped cooperation and weapons embargo against Israel therefore directly contradicts the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår uttryckligen fast att relationen till Israel, som den enda demokratin i sin region, bör återupprättas och vårdas. Planen riktar i stället sanktionskravet mot Turkiet, Belarus, Ryssland och andra länder med negativ utveckling. Motförslagets krav på suspenderat associeringsavtal, stoppat samarbete och vapenembargo mot Israel strider därmed direkt mot planen.
- vårda relationen med Israeldecisive»Relationen till Israel, som den enda demokratin i sin region, bör återupprättas och vårdas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The relationship with Israel, as the only democracy in its region, should be re-established and maintained.”
- sanktioner riktas mot andra stater»Sverige bör verka för tydliga sanktioner mot Turkiet, Belarus, Ryssland och andra länder med en negativ utveckling.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden should work for clear sanctions against Turkey, Belarus, Russia and other countries with negative development.”
- stöd till demokratier»Vara en tydlig röst för den västerländska demokratimodellen och mänskliga fri- och rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Be a clear voice for the Western democracy model and human rights and freedoms”
- bekämpa islamism»Bekämpa internationell terrorism och islamism« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Combat international terrorism and Islamism”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:UU10)
- Committee report full text (HA01UU10)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1288 — Lagstiftning om ekocid av Anna Vikström och Mathias Tegnér (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:1366 — En ny svensk Israelpolitik av Mikael Oscarsson och Magnus Oscarsson (båda KD)
- Motion 2022/23:1455 — Fred i Palestina av Jacob Risberg och Bassem Nasr (båda MP)
- Motion 2022/23:1615 — Belarus av Martin Ådahl (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1744 — Kuba av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1749 — Sverigedemokraternas biståndspolitik av Mats Nordberg m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1752 — Demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter i utrikespolitiken av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1764 — Säkerhetspolitik av Aron Emilsson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1769 — Mellanöstern av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1804 — Balkankonferens för handel och försoning av Magnus Jacobsson (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:1879 — En fokuserad utvecklingsagenda bortom 2030 av Kerstin Lundgren m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1882 — En starkare liberal demokrati av Malin Björk m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1960 — Ekocid som brott vid ICC i Haag av Gunilla Carlsson (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1965 — Åtgärder mot regimen i Iran av Lawen Redar m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2040 — Omprövning av Iranpolitiken av Azadeh Rojhan m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2048 — Skärpning av EU:s sanktioner mot regimen i Belarus av Mikael Oscarsson (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:2247 — Iran av Alireza Akhondi och Martin Ådahl (båda C)
- Motion 2022/23:2278 — Initiativ till ekocidlagstiftning av Rebecka Le Moine (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:2364 — med anledning av skr. 2022/23:115 Verksamheten i Europeiska unionen under 2022 av Håkan Svenneling m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:53 — Hbtqi-frågor i världen av Lotta Johnsson Fornarve m.fl. (V)
Source: The Swedish Parliament