EU weighs import ban on Israeli settlement goods

European Union foreign ministers on Monday discussed the possibility of banning imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, as several member states pushed for tougher measures against settlement expansion.

The issue was raised during a meeting in Brussels, where EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the situation in the West Bank had become increasingly serious and was undermining prospects for a two-state solution.

Kallas said a number of member states had called for restrictions on trade with Israeli settlements, prompting the European Commission to present several policy options, including an import ban.

She noted that ministers would assess whether there was sufficient political backing to advance the proposal.

Several EU countries, including Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands, have already introduced national measures limiting trade with Israeli settlements, which are regarded as illegal under international law.

Although Monday‍‍`s talks were not expected to produce an immediate decision, diplomats said they would help determine the level of support among member states for broader EU action.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot criticised the pace of discussions, urging the European Commission to move beyond outlining options and present concrete proposals.

EU officials remain divided over the legal process required to adopt such measures, with uncertainty over whether unanimous approval from all 27 member states or a qualified majority would be needed.

Diplomats said Germany and Italy have yet to decide whether they would support an EU-wide import ban.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, where more than 500,000 Israeli settlers now live alongside around three million Palestinians.

Last month, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that continued settlement expansion was contributing to the largest displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank since 1967.

The EU has long struggled to adopt a unified position on Israel and the Palestinian issue because of differing views among its member states.