Internal Tensions Mount Within EU Over Pro-Palestinian Protests
Pro-Palestinian protests within the European Union are causing significant internal conflict, as staff express concerns over potential repercussions while unions remain divided on their support, reports 24brussels.
According to four individuals familiar with the situation, protesters are uncertain about the legal and professional consequences of their actions. Some believe that a strike could be justified if they frame it as an effort to compel the EU to fulfill its fundamental international human rights obligations, which civil servants are expected to uphold.
An internal letter from the group EU Staff for Peace, which advocates for Palestinian solidarity, highlights that certain protest methods have been met with “intimidation” tactics, including claims of physical confrontations by security personnel, unfair contract terminations, and actions against an internal petition.
In a notable incident, security escorted seven officials from the European Council’s Europa canteen for wearing t-shirts stating “Say no to genocide.” Reports indicate that one individual had their arm twisted and another was compelled to delete videos of the incident from their phone and its trash folder.
The letter also cites instances where contracts of unnamed protesters were not renewed or they were forced to resign, alongside an unexplained ban on a pro-Palestinian internal survey that quickly garnered 1,514 responses within 48 hours. Additionally, Israeli Colonel Moshe Tetro, accused of war crimes, was spotted on June 25 at the staff entrance of the Commission headquarters.
Podestá denied any claims of intimidation, asserting that resignations occurred due to “service needs and individual performance.” A spokesperson for the European Council confirmed the removal of staff from the canteen, echoing the Commission’s stance that the protests were “political.”
However, staff dispute this characterization, asserting that their activism aims to hold the EU accountable to its own treaties and international law, which they argue Israel has consistently violated. Israel maintains that it adheres to international law amid its military operations in Gaza.
“This is an institution born to spread peace in Europe and globally—and the global dimension is very important to the EU,” stated another civil servant. They emphasized that the EU is failing to adhere to its foundational principles.
