The European Union (EU) closely monitors the ongoing situation of Eritrean and Sudanese asylum-seekers in Israel. The EU expects all countries to ensure that all refugee applications are treated in accordance with international law and international standards.

The EU Delegation in Tel Aviv attended most of the Supreme Court hearings related to the fate of Sudanese and Eritrean asylum-seekers in Israel. The EU Head of Delegation also met with the Representative of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to discuss the situation. The EU concern for the particularly vulnerable asylum-seekers, such as women, children and torture victims has been conveyed to the Israeli authorities.

The new Israeli policy was discussed with the representatives of the Ministry of Interior's Population, Immigration and Border Authority and of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The EU Delegations in Kigali and Kampala met with Members of the Knesset about their fact-finding mission to Rwanda and Uganda. The issue featured prominently in EU Member States concerns raised during Israel's Universal Periodic Review in January 2018 in Geneva.

The recent decision by the Supreme Court to temporarily freeze the deportation process is a positive development. The EU will closely monitor the government's response to the Supreme Court's decision.