2025-07-20 19:00
publication
2025-07-20 19:00
EU investments in Israel reach record levels, and their largest source is the Netherlands. As the Somo report published on Tuesday reveals, thanks to the Amsterdam district of Zuidas, the country became the largest investor in the Israeli economy.
The analysis of the Dutch NGO Somo published on Tuesday (Foundation for Research on International Enterprises/Stichting Onderzroek MultinationNengen) shows that The European Union is currently the largest foreign investor in Israel – even ahead of the United States. The total value of investments from EU Member States in 2023 amounted to EUR 72.1 billion. At the same time, the US invested EUR 39.2 billion.
But It is not Brussels or Berlin, but Amsterdam has become the Center for the European financing of the Israeli economy. According to data cited by Somo, as many as two -thirds of total EU investments in Israel come from the Netherlands – mainly due to the Amsterdam business district of Zuidas. In 2023, the value of investments of Dutch companies in Israel exceeded EUR 49 billion.
The Somo report shows this dependence in the context of the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. The organization appeals to the European Union for the immediate suspension of the applicable association system with Israel and the introduction of an embargo for weapons trade and double use products.
Zuidas plays a special role in the investment mechanism – the prestigious Amsterdam Financial Center, where hundreds of international companies, investment funds are registered and so -called Brievenbusfirma's, i.e. companies-pocket companies. As emphasized by Somo, some of EUR 49 billion formally invested in Israel may not come from Dutch capital, but from companies using the Netherlands as a “tax and legal junction”.
According to data from the Central Bank of the Netherlands (DNB) about 12 percent These investments are so -called Entities of special purpose – not conducting real business activity. Despite this, both Somo and independent experts indicate that many real companies also use legal gaps and tax contracts to limit due taxes and maximize profits.
A two -sided tax agreement between the Netherlands and Israel is also essential. It enables Israeli companies to transfer profits by means of internal loans and license fees, which – according to experts – can reduce budget revenues both in Israel and in other European countries.
Somo experts point out that although such mechanisms can formally limit the income of the Israeli tax authorities, they support the country's economy in a broader approach. “Thanks to favorable tax conditions in the Netherlands, Israeli companies can avoid taxes not only in Israel, but also in other European countries. This increases their profitability and strengthens the entire Israeli economy” – explains Jasper van Teffelen, Somo tax analyst and author of the report in a telephone conversation with PAP.
Somo data also shows that Israel invested EUR 47 billion in the Netherlands in 2023 – six times more than in the United States. Thus, Amsterdam and Zuidas also become the largest recipient of Israeli capital in the world.
As the Somo report emphasizes, the economic dependencies between the EU and Israel – especially as strong as those connecting Israel with the Netherlands – can influence the position of individual EU countries in the face of any sanctions. The Netherlands, as a country with the greatest capital share, plays a particularly important role here.
Meanwhile, despite the growing social pressure and appeals of non -governmental organizations, EU foreign ministers did not decide on Tuesday to introduce restrictions on Israel. During the meeting in Brussels, ten possible measures proposed by the EU diplomacy head Kaja Kallas were discussed. After the meeting, however, she informed that these proposals remain only “on the table” as a potential instrument of pressure if Israel did not meet earlier arrangements.
From Amsterdam Patryk Kulpok (PAP)
PMK/ MMS/
