Key facts
- The European Commission has proposed options to restrict EU imports of goods from Israeli settlements.
- These options include a full or partial ban, prohibitive tariffs, or stricter export licenses.
- The proposals come after a majority of EU foreign ministers requested tighter trade restrictions.
- The legal basis for such measures is debated, with commercial policy and foreign policy options presented.
- France and Sweden had previously called for similar measures in April.
The European Commission has presented several options to further restrict imports of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. These proposals, detailed in an 'options paper' circulated to member states, follow a call from a majority of EU foreign ministers in June for clearer trade measures.
The paper outlines three potential measures: requiring companies to obtain export licenses for settlement products, introducing prohibitive tariffs to make imports expensive, or implementing a full or partial ban on imports from these settlements. The Commission acknowledges that circumvention, such as mislabeling goods, remains a vulnerability for all proposed options.
The legal basis for such restrictions is a point of discussion, with the Commission suggesting a foreign policy approach requiring unanimity, while Council legal services indicated a commercial policy basis might be possible with a qualified majority. The proposals come amid continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law.
France and Sweden had previously written to the Commission in April, urging it to put forward a proposal, citing the 2024 International Court of Justice advisory opinion on the illegality of Israeli settlements. EU ambassadors are expected to provide initial feedback on the options paper, with further discussions among EU foreign ministers scheduled. However, no formal decision is anticipated in the immediate future, with the next Foreign Affairs Council in October.