PRESS RELEASE – Paris / Luxembourg, September 11, 2025 JURDI appeals to the CJEU following the rejection of its appeal against the EU's inaction in the face of genocide and famine in Gaza
The Association of Jurists for Respect for International Law (JURDI) noted with disappointment the orders issued on September 5, 2025 by the Court of Justice of the European Union (cases T-482/25 and T-482/25 R).
Seized with a recourse in default, JURDI demanded that the European Commission and the Council of the European Union assume their legal obligations in the face of the plausible risk of genocide recognized by the International Court of Justice, by suspending the association agreement with Israel, triggering a mechanism of targeted sanctions and reviewing all cooperation programs.
The Court ruled this appeal inadmissible, finding that JURDI had not demonstrated that it was "directly and individually concerned" by the inaction denounced.
Consequently, the extremely urgent request for interim measures in summary proceedings, intended to prevent further sensitive forms of cooperation with Israel pending a final decision, was also dismissed as moot.
JURDI expresses its deep concern at this excessively conservative interpretation of the admissibility requirements, which deprives civil society organizations of any access to the European Court of Justice on matters falling under peremptory norms of international law (juice cogens) such as the prevention and suppression of the ongoing genocide and in the face of a famine recognized by the UN. Faithful to its statutory mandate, JURDI announces that it now intends to appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Union. The appeal will cite several errors of law:
- the Court's refusal to recognize that the inaction denounced directly affects JURDI's statutory mission; ;
- an unjustified assimilation of the association to "any other organization", despite its specific purpose focused on the jurisdictional defense of the peremptory norms of international humanitarian law and the fundamental principles of public international law; ;
- an overly restrictive interpretation of case law (ClientEarth, Internationaler Hilfsfonds) which allows a more flexible interpretation of the admissibility of NGOs in areas of general interest; ;
- Finally, an infringement of the fundamental right to a effective remedy (Art. 47 of the Charter), since the interpretation adopted by the Tribunal leads to a genuine denial of justice in matters of jus cogens violations.
JURDI remains convinced that the European Union cannot continue to remain silent and ignore its international obligations in the face of the genocide and other international crimes currently being committed by the State of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly the use of famine as a weapon of war. JURDI will pursue all available legal avenues to ensure that the European Union institutions uphold their international obligations.
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