site.btaEuropean Commission Spokesperson: EU Can Impose Arms Embargo Only by Unanimous Decision

The EU can impose an arms embargo only by a unanimous decision or via UN Security Council decision, a European Commission spokesperson said Monday in response to a question related to the anniversary of the Hamas attack in Israel and the possibility of a region-wide arms embargo.

The EU has no prerogatives in arms supplies, as these matters are for states to decide on their own, the spokesperson said. They added that the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would participate in a commemorative ceremony at a synagogue in Brussels Monday evening to mark the anniversary.

Earlier on Monday, von der Leyen expressed support for Jewish communities worldwide. European Council President Charles Michel wrote on the social media X that the most important thing now is that the fire in Gaza is stopped and that all the hostages taken in the attack a year ago are released. "Europe stands firmly for peace, and for upholding international law & international humanitarian law worldwide", Michel added. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also welcomed the allies' efforts to bring about a ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and an end to the conflict.