Settlement ban backed; consensus blocked
3 months ago
Most EU foreign ministers backed a full ban on imports from Israeli settlements in Brussels talks, but Germany and other capitals blocked consensus, leaving no agreement.
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It’s high time for the EU to suspend its trade with Israel, by immediately banning trade with its illegal settlements, as required by international law. My take in The Guardian
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
EU accused of dragging its feet over ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements
Foreign ministers will discuss options on Monday but decision on imports is not expected for months
www.theguardian.com
July 13, 2026 at 5:59 AM
It’s high time for the EU to suspend its trade with Israel, by immediately banning trade with its illegal settlements, as required by international law. My take in The Guardian
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
by Steve Peers Reposted by Jonathan Portes
From a historical perspective, it's very, very unusual for the EU Commission to argue for a narrow interpretation of the EU's external trade powers (the "common commercial policy"). Frankly, this looks like a political intervention by fans of the Israeli government, not a legal analysis.
Kaja Kallas, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Ireland are among those who support qualified majority (QMV), following an opinion from the EU Council's legal service.
But the European Commission, which designs trade proposals, and Germany favour unanimity.
But the European Commission, which designs trade proposals, and Germany favour unanimity.
Qualified majority or unanimity?
The EU push to restrict trade with illegal Israeli settlements risks getting bogged down in a hopeless legal debate.
@maredgwyn.bsky.social and I report.
The EU push to restrict trade with illegal Israeli settlements risks getting bogged down in a hopeless legal debate.
@maredgwyn.bsky.social and I report.
July 13, 2026 at 9:54 AM
From a historical perspective, it's very, very unusual for the EU Commission to argue for a narrow interpretation of the EU's external trade powers (the "common commercial policy"). Frankly, this looks like a political intervention by fans of the Israeli government, not a legal analysis.
Foreign Affairs Council meeting today, with on the agenda the trade ban with Israeli settlements
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
Brussels accused of delaying Israel settlement trade ban
The EU’s foreign ministers meet in Brussels on Monday to consider proposals to restrict or ban trade with Israeli settlements, but some countries are privately accusing the European Commission of drag...
www.euronews.com
July 13, 2026 at 7:18 AM
Foreign Affairs Council meeting today, with on the agenda the trade ban with Israeli settlements
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...
Berlin has for a long long time championed qualified majority voting in EU foreign affairs to strengthen EU capacity to act.
Besides everything else, this could be a big test whether Germany is willing to accept QMV on a foreign affairs issue if it is in the minority. In my view it should.
Besides everything else, this could be a big test whether Germany is willing to accept QMV on a foreign affairs issue if it is in the minority. In my view it should.
France also supports restricting trade with the Israeli settlements through a qualified majority.
Can the EU take such a decision without France and Germany on the same page?
Some say that, as long as the numbers add up, the EU should go ahead. Others say Berlin must be in.
Can the EU take such a decision without France and Germany on the same page?
Some say that, as long as the numbers add up, the EU should go ahead. Others say Berlin must be in.
Kaja Kallas, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Ireland are among those who support qualified majority (QMV), following an opinion from the EU Council's legal service.
But the European Commission, which designs trade proposals, and Germany favour unanimity.
But the European Commission, which designs trade proposals, and Germany favour unanimity.
July 13, 2026 at 8:04 AM
Berlin has for a long long time championed qualified majority voting in EU foreign affairs to strengthen EU capacity to act.
Besides everything else, this could be a big test whether Germany is willing to accept QMV on a foreign affairs issue if it is in the minority. In my view it should.
Besides everything else, this could be a big test whether Germany is willing to accept QMV on a foreign affairs issue if it is in the minority. In my view it should.
by Steve Peers
2/ the EU/Israel association agreement, according to the prior CJEU case law interpreting its territorial scope (on the question of whether settlement goods can benefit from trade preferences under the treaty).
July 13, 2026 at 10:16 AM
2/ the EU/Israel association agreement, according to the prior CJEU case law interpreting its territorial scope (on the question of whether settlement goods can benefit from trade preferences under the treaty).
No, no need for unanimity : it’s a trade measure euobserver.com/221647/eu-le...
EU leaders pretend they need unanimity to ban Israeli settlement products. They don’t
Unanimity has paralysed EU action too many times. This time it's possible to avoid it, writes Albert Alemanno. The proposal to ban goods from Israeli settlements is qualitatively different. It does no...
euobserver.com
July 13, 2026 at 6:11 AM
No, no need for unanimity : it’s a trade measure euobserver.com/221647/eu-le...
Reposted by Mauro Gatti
A shocking outcome from today's meeting of EU foreign ministers.
Despite overwhelming evidence that Israel is violating international law, there is still no final decision to suspend the EU–Israel Association Agreement or ban trade with illegal settlements.
1/2
Despite overwhelming evidence that Israel is violating international law, there is still no final decision to suspend the EU–Israel Association Agreement or ban trade with illegal settlements.
1/2
July 13, 2026 at 6:00 PM
A shocking outcome from today's meeting of EU foreign ministers.
Despite overwhelming evidence that Israel is violating international law, there is still no final decision to suspend the EU–Israel Association Agreement or ban trade with illegal settlements.
1/2
Despite overwhelming evidence that Israel is violating international law, there is still no final decision to suspend the EU–Israel Association Agreement or ban trade with illegal settlements.
1/2
In addition to its recent report documenting the ongoing genocide in Sudan, this UN report confirms Israel is also in violation of the Genocide Treaty. Unfortunately, US politicians believe such investigations are only validif the perpetrator is not a U.S. ally. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Israel continues to commit genocide by targeting children in Gaza, UN inquiry finds
Independent report says by aiming at children Israel is undermining capacity of Palestinian people to exist
www.theguardian.com
July 12, 2026 at 1:16 PM
In addition to its recent report documenting the ongoing genocide in Sudan, this UN report confirms Israel is also in violation of the Genocide Treaty. Unfortunately, US politicians believe such investigations are only validif the perpetrator is not a U.S. ally. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Reposted by Mauro Gatti
A full trade ban with Israeli settlements has extracted the "most support" from EU countries, Kajas Kallas confirms.
She says an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers might be convened to ensure further progress.
But the QMV vs unanimity debate is still open.
She says an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers might be convened to ensure further progress.
But the QMV vs unanimity debate is still open.
Full ban on settlement trade gets ‘most' EU support, Kallas says
EU foreign ministers overwhelmingly backed clamping down on EU trade with Israeli settlements during closed-door discussions on Monday, with an official source saying the biggest cohort of countries s...
www.euronews.com
July 13, 2026 at 5:07 PM
A full trade ban with Israeli settlements has extracted the "most support" from EU countries, Kajas Kallas confirms.
She says an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers might be convened to ensure further progress.
But the QMV vs unanimity debate is still open.
She says an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers might be convened to ensure further progress.
But the QMV vs unanimity debate is still open.
Reposted by Nicolai von Ondarza
France also supports restricting trade with the Israeli settlements through a qualified majority.
Can the EU take such a decision without France and Germany on the same page?
Some say that, as long as the numbers add up, the EU should go ahead. Others say Berlin must be in.
Can the EU take such a decision without France and Germany on the same page?
Some say that, as long as the numbers add up, the EU should go ahead. Others say Berlin must be in.
Kaja Kallas, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Ireland are among those who support qualified majority (QMV), following an opinion from the EU Council's legal service.
But the European Commission, which designs trade proposals, and Germany favour unanimity.
But the European Commission, which designs trade proposals, and Germany favour unanimity.
Qualified majority or unanimity?
The EU push to restrict trade with illegal Israeli settlements risks getting bogged down in a hopeless legal debate.
@maredgwyn.bsky.social and I report.
The EU push to restrict trade with illegal Israeli settlements risks getting bogged down in a hopeless legal debate.
@maredgwyn.bsky.social and I report.
July 13, 2026 at 8:00 AM
France also supports restricting trade with the Israeli settlements through a qualified majority.
Can the EU take such a decision without France and Germany on the same page?
Some say that, as long as the numbers add up, the EU should go ahead. Others say Berlin must be in.
Can the EU take such a decision without France and Germany on the same page?
Some say that, as long as the numbers add up, the EU should go ahead. Others say Berlin must be in.
Reposted by Césari Laurent
The EU’s foreign ministers meet in Brussels on Monday to consider proposals to restrict or ban trade with Israeli settlements, but some countries are privately accusing the European Commission of dragging its feet. #EuropeNews
Brussels accused of delaying Israel settlement trade ban
The EU’s foreign ministers meet in Brussels on Monday to consider proposals to restrict or ban trade with Israeli settlements, but some countries are privately accusing the European Commission of dragging its feet.
l.euronews.com
July 13, 2026 at 7:27 AM
The EU’s foreign ministers meet in Brussels on Monday to consider proposals to restrict or ban trade with Israeli settlements, but some countries are privately accusing the European Commission of dragging its feet. #EuropeNews