The Nordic Initiative Declaration on Israel & Palestine

Adopted in Edinburgh, 1 September 2025

We, the undersigned Members and former Members of national parliaments, together with members and former Members of the European Parliament and governments across Europe,

• Appalled by the ongoing war and the horrific suffering inflicted upon the civilian population in Gaza,
• Deeply concerned by the absence of any meaningful commitment to a sustainable peace between Israel and Palestine,
• Convinced that the international community must act decisively to end the killing and human suffering, and to initiate a process that will enable all communities in the region to live in peace and security,

urge the European Union and all European governments to:

1. Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages.
2. Ensure the immediate, efficient, and unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
3. Work with the State of Palestine, Arab countries, and the United Nations to establish a viable interim administration in Gaza.
4. End, without delay, all arms sales and shipments to Israel.
5. Suspend, with immediate effect, the EU–Israel Association Agreement.
6. Prohibit all imports from illegal settlements in the West Bank and impose targeted sanctions on those responsible for settler violence.
7. Call for the release of all arbitrarily detained Palestinians.
8. Call on all states to take action in accordance with International Court of Justice rulings to prevent genocide.
9. Ensure that all those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity—including Israeli political and military leaders, as well as perpetrators of terrorist attacks—are brought before the International Criminal Court.
10. Restrict trade relations with Israel until it credibly commits to negotiations leading to the implementation of a viable two-state solution.
11. Call upon all governments that have not yet done so to recognize, without delay, the State of Palestine.
12. Support the holding of free and fair Palestinian elections, with voting rights guaranteed in East Jerusalem.
13. Restore the two-state solution to the centre of the international agenda, making use of the constructive proposals put forward in the Berlin Initiative.
14. Secure the funding necessary for the reconstruction of Gaza, with Israel recognising and discharging its obligation to contribute.

As parliamentarians and politicians, we remain steadfast in our commitment to achieving a just and viable peace between Israel and Palestine. We call upon our colleagues throughout Europe to join the network we have established, in order to share information and apply sustained pressure on governments and other relevant actors, with the aim of ending violence and ensuring peace and welfare for all the peoples of the Middle East.

We, the undersigned members of national parliaments, and former ministers:

1. Alexandra Völker - Member of the Swedish Parliament
2. Ann Linde - Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden 2019-22
3. Dagbjört Hákonardóttir - Member of the Parliament of Iceland
4. Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro - Member of the Swedish Parliament
5. Elisabeth Nauclér - Member of the Finnish Parliament 2007-15
6. Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis - Minister Foreign Affairs of Cyprus 2007-2008, 2011-2013
7. Erkki Tuomioja - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland 2000-07, 2011-15
8. Eva Biaudet - Member of the Finnish Parliament
9. Evin Incir - Member of the European Parliament
10. Inka Hopsu - Member of the Finnish Parliament
11. Jeanette Gustafsdotter - Minister of Culture of Sweden 2021-22
12. Mogens Lykketoft - Speaker of the Danish Parliament 2011-15; Minister of Foreign Affairs 2000-1
13. Nasima Razmyar - Member of the Finnish Parliament
14. Ola Möller - Member of the Swedish Parliament
15. Saara Hyrkkö - Member of the Finnish Parliament
16. Tom Clonan - Member of the Irish Senate
17. Ville Skinnari - Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Finland 2019-23

The undersigned acceded to the declaration after September 1:

18. Anette Karlsson - Member of the Finnish Parliament
19. Eeva-Johanna Eloranta - Member of the Finnish Parliament
20. Elisa Gebhard - Member of the Finnish Parliament
21. Elisabeth Rehn – Minister of Defence of Finland 1990–1995
22. Guðmundur Ari Sigurjónsson - Member of the Parliament of Iceland
23. Heidi Hautala – Minister for International Development of Finland 2011–2013
24. Helena Marttila - Member of the Finnish Parliament
25. Johan Büser - Member of the Swedish Parliament
26. Johan Kvarnström - Member of the Finnish Parliament
27. Johanna Ojala-Niemelä - Member of the Finnish Parliament
28. Johannes Koskinen - Member of the Finnish Parliament; Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee
29. Juha Viitala - Member of the Finnish Parliament
30. Jussi Saramo - Member of the European Parliament; Minister of Education of Finland 2020-2021
31. Li Andersson - Member of the European Parliament; Minister of Education of Finland 2019-2020, 2021-2023
32. Liisa Jaakonsaari - Minister of Labour of Finland 1995-1999
33. Lotta Hamari - Member of the Finnish Parliament
34. Maria Guzenina - Minister for Social Affairs of Finland 2011-2013
35. Maria Ohisalo – Member of the European Parliament; Minister of Interior 2015-2019, Finland
36. Merja Kyllönen - Member of the European Parliament; Minister of Transport of Finland 2011-2014
37. Morgan Johansson - Minister of Justice of Sweden 2014-2022
38. Nina Fellman - Member of the Parliament of Åland
39. Paavo Arhinmäki - Minister of Culture and Sports of Finland 2011-2014
40. Pär Stenbäck – Minister of Education and Foreign Affairs of Finland 1979–1983
41. Paula Werning - Member of the Finnish Parliament
42. Per-Arne Håkansson - Member of the Swedish Parliament
43. Pertti Salolainen – Minister for Foreign Trade of Finland 1987–1991
44. Peter Hultqvist - Minister of Defence of Sweden 2014-2022
45. Pinja Perholehto - Member of the Finnish Parliament
46. Saku Nikkanen - Member of the Finnish Parliament
47. Satu Hassi - Minister of the Environment of Finland 1999-2002
48. Seppo Lindblom - Minister of Trade and Industry of Finland 1972, 1983-1987
49. Sirpa Pietikäinen - Member of the European Parliament; Minister for the Environment of Finland 1991-1995
50. Timo Harakka - Member of the Finnish Parliament; Minister of Transport and Communications 2019-2023
51. Timo Suhonen - Member of the Finnish Parliament
52. Tuula Haatainen - Minister for Employment of Finland 2019-2023
53. Veronika Honkasalo - Member of the Finnish Parliament
54. Ville Niinistö - Minister for the Environment of Finland 2011-2014
55. Jouni Ovaska - Member of the Finnish Parliament
56. Heléne Fritzon - Member of the European Parliament; Head of Delegation for the Swedish Social Democrats in the European Parliament
57. Carina Ödebrink - Member of the Swedish Parliament
58. Ása Berglind Hjálmarsdóttir – Member of the Parliament of Iceland
59. Artemi Rallo lombarte - Member of the Spanish Parliament
60. Tiina Elo - Member of the Finnish Parliament
61. Fatim Diarra - Member of the Finnish Parliament
62. Atte Harjanne - Member of the Finnish Parliament
63. Bella Forsgrén - Member of the Finnish Parliament
64. Jenni Pitko - Member of the Finnish Parliament
65. Sofia Virta - Member of the Finnish Parliament
66. Oras Tynkkynen - Member of the Finnish Parliament
67. Hanna Holopainen - Member of the Finnish Parliament
68. Kim Berg - Member of the Finnish Parliament
69. Tiina Elo - Member of the Finnish Parliament
70. Krista Mikkonen - Member of the Finnish Parliament

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