The Commission vs. The Council: A Classic EU Power Struggle Over Israel Policy

The proposal to sanction Israel has ignited a classic European Union power struggle between the European Commission, which initiated the plan, and the European Council, comprised of the 27 member states who must ultimately approve it. This institutional tension will define the next phase of the debate.
The Commission, under Ursula von der Leyen, has played its role as the EU’s executive and agenda-setter. It conducted a legal review, formulated a detailed policy, and presented it with a strong public justification. It has acted boldly, seeking to lead the Union towards a more assertive foreign policy.
Now, the power shifts to the Council, where national interests reign supreme. Each of the 27 heads of government and their foreign ministers will analyze the proposal through the lens of their own country’s priorities, alliances, and domestic politics. The process will move from the supranational ambition of the Commission to the intergovernmental reality of the Council.
This dynamic is inherent to the EU’s design. The Commission proposes, but the Council disposes. It is a system of checks and balances that often leads to frustration and accusations of inaction. In this case, the Commission has set a high bar, and it will be up to the member states to decide whether they want to clear it.
The outcome will be telling. If the Council largely adopts the Commission’s plan, it will be seen as a success for a more integrated and powerful EU executive. If the plan is heavily diluted or rejected, it will reaffirm the primacy of national capitals in shaping the bloc’s foreign policy.