Key facts
- The European Commission has proposed options to restrict EU imports of goods from Israeli settlements.
- The proposed measures include an import licensing system, tariffs, or a complete ban on settlement goods.
- These proposals were developed following a request from EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas.
- The Commission acknowledges that circumvention, such as mislabeling, remains a vulnerability for the proposed options.
- Foreign ministers are set to discuss the proposals at an upcoming summit.
The European Commission has circulated an options paper detailing potential trade restrictions on goods produced in Israeli settlements, including a full or partial ban, requiring an export license, or imposing higher tariffs. This move follows a request from twenty member states and EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas to address trade with settlements considered illegal under international law. However, significant divisions persist among EU member states regarding the approach and the legal basis for such measures. While some nations like France and Sweden openly support restrictions, others, including Germany and the Czech Republic, have expressed caution. Italy's stance is seen as potentially pivotal in determining the outcome. The Commission has maintained that the measure should be anchored in foreign policy, but the Council's legal service suggests a commercial policy basis might also be viable depending on the proposal's specifics. Formal proposals are not expected until later in the year, likely after further discussions at the Foreign Affairs Council.