Members of Congress from both parties are calling on the European Union to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Technically the statement is a formal congratulations regarding the formal process initiated by the United Kingdom to blacklist the Iran-backed group. More pointedly, it’s a call to go through with the designation:

“It is critical that our friends and allies across the Atlantic publicly declare Hezbollah a terror organization so that we can choke off the funding this dangerous terrorist group gets across Europe,” Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) said. “It is urgent that we act now against this organization which has killed more Americans than any other after al-Qaeda because inaction is only emboldening them.”

Bulgaria’s foreign minister this month reemphasized a February government announcement that Hezbollah operatives were responsible for the July 2012 Burgas, Bulgaria bombing that killed six people. Also in February, Cypriot court convicted a confessed Hezbollah operative on terror-related charges.

Neither the evidence nor the U.S. call seem to have prevailed on the Austrians, Italians, or Czechs, who today voiced reservations about blacklisting Hezbollah:

Diplomats said the discussions were not over, but Britain may escalate the issue to a higher level, possibly to a July meeting of foreign ministers. “There was no agreement and the understanding was the issue will be discussed further, but not in this (group),” a diplomat said… Diplomats say a majority of the 27 EU member states, including France and Germany, back the British proposal. But unanimity is needed and Austria, the Czech Republic and Italy are among EU governments that have voiced reservations.

Analysts continue to express consternation regarding the dynamic by which a group that kills E.U. citizens via terror attacks on E.U. soil does not constitute a terror group for E.U. purposes.

[Photo: CongressmanLamborn / Youtube]