EU's Mogherini says boycotting Israel falls under 'freedom of expression

The European Union's diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini has said that decisions by EU member countries to boycott Israel are protected as "freedom of expression" under the the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.


Mogherini's statement came in response to an inquiry from an Irish member of the European Parliament which was submitted last month.

In her response, Mogherini said that "The EU stands firm in protecting freedom of expression and freedom of association in line with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which is applicable on EU Member States' territory, including with regard to BDS actions carried out on this territory."

"Freedom of expression, as underlined by the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, is also applicable to information or ideas ‘that offend, shock or disturb the State or any sector of the population’," she continued.

However, she stressed, "The EU rejects the BDS campaign's attempts to isolate Israel and is opposed to any boycott of Israel."
 [i24news.tv]
31/10/16