May 15, 2025 — Washington, DC
Joint Statement Signed by Lawmakers from U.S. and Europe Comes as AJC Hosts European Delegation in Washington, DC, Convenes Congressional Roundtable
Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI), a cross-party, inter-parliamentary group spearheaded by American Jewish Committee (AJC), today released a statement signed by legislators from the United States and Europe urging decisive and strategic action to deter the Iranian regime’s aggression and destabilizing behavior. The signatories represent multiple political parties across both continents.
The TFI interparliamentary group released the urgent appeal following an AJC-convened bipartisan roundtable discussion on Capitol Hill. The event was led by TFI Co-Chairs Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) and Brad Schneider (D-IL), and included a delegation of leading European parliamentarians, including Andreas Minnich, the Chairman of Austria’s TFI Chapter and a member of the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP).
In the statement, the legislators highlight the looming October 18 deadline for key European nations to invoke snapback sanctions under the Iran nuclear deal, “We urge a robust, unified transatlantic strategy to address the full scope of Iran’s malign actions, including its nuclear ambitions, which will be unconstrained once the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action‘s (JCPOA) sanctions snapback mechanism expires this October.” The statement further urges the European Union (EU) to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the entirety of Hezbollah as terrorist entities.
“We commend the parliamentarians for speaking with one voice to promote a united transatlantic front to counter the Iranian regime’s escalating aggression and reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons,” said Benedetta Buttiglione, Director of the AJC Transatlantic Institute and Michael Sieveking, AJC’s Director of U.S. Diplomatic Engagement, who together lead the TFI interparliamentary network with more than 170 members in legislatures across North America, Europe, and Israel. “In this moment of distress for Israel and the Jewish people—with 58 hostages still being held in Gaza—it is deeply meaningful that this high-level delegation of European lawmakers has come to the U.S. to engage with American Jewry and strengthen transatlantic efforts to counter the Iranian regime’s quest to annihilate the Jewish state.”
The initiative comes amid the Trump Administration’s indirect talks with Tehran coupled with a renewed maximum pressure campaign against the regime. Following changes of leadership in both the EU and the U.S. over the past year, the statement calls for close coordination among the U.S., Europe, and Israel to counter the Iranian regime's nefarious behavior, while also recognizing the country's growing role in supporting Russia’s brutal and unprovoked war against Ukraine.
“It is always important when members of the Transatlantic Friends of Israel gather. I appreciated the chance today to talk about the importance of U.S. leadership and consistency, not just in supporting Israel and advancing security and peace for the Middle East, but for the security of Europe and the world. We all agree that alliances matter, that our mutual friendships make us all stronger, and that together we can protect democracy and defeat extremism,” said Congressman Schneider. “Thank you to the Members of Congress and senior European lawmakers from Sweden, Belgium, Latvia, Bulgaria, Austria, Lithuania, Croatia, Poland and Czech Republic who joined for this important conversation. The transatlantic alliance remains essential to defending freedom and confronting those who seek to undermine it. I am grateful to the American Jewish Committee for bringing us together.”
“It was an honor to welcome members of the Transatlantic Friends of Israel to the Capitol today. This group plays a critical role in strengthening the U.S.-EU-Israel partnership, and I’m proud to stand with our European allies in reaffirming our shared commitment to Israel and the democratic values we defend together,” said Congressman Garbarino.
"Those who seek genuine and lasting peace in the Middle East can no longer afford to ignore Iran. What’s needed now are clear political signals and decisive action to curb destabilizing forces and create a turning point for the region,“ said TFI Austria Co-Chair Andreas Minnich.
The cross-party delegation of lawmakers from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden are participating in a three-day program in the nation’s capital. Their agenda spans topics such as the U.S.-Europe-Israel partnership, the political landscape in Washington, the future of the Abraham Accords, the hostage crisis, Jewish life in America, and the global fight against antisemitism. Founded by the AJC Transatlantic Institute in Brussels in 2019, TFI is the first-ever cross-party friendship caucus specifically committed to strengthening the partnership between Israel and the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
In addition to the Capitol Hill roundtable, the delegation met with U.S. government officials, AJC professional and lay leadership, think tanks, and academics.
The lawmakers are also attending a reception hosted by the Embassy of Bulgaria with remarks from the Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires Stefka Yovcheva, Minister Counselor at the Israeli Embassy to the U.S. Yoav Katz, Bulgarian parliamentarian and TFI Member Daniel Lorer, and AJC Transatlantic Institute Board Members.
AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 offices across the United States, 14 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide, AJC’s mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel, and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. For more, please visit www.ajc.org.
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