EU discusses ban on Israeli settlement imports

EU foreign ministers met in Brussels on July 13, 2026, to discuss imposing an import ban on products from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The meeting followed pressure from several member states, including Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain, which have already imposed their own restrictions. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the situation in the West Bank as 'intolerable' and noted that the International — European Commission had presented options including a full ban, an import licensing system, or prohibitive tariffs. No concrete decision was reached, but ministers tasked ambassadors to advance the work and agreed to possibly reconvene an extraordinary meeting. Disagreements remain over whether a ban would require unanimous approval from all 27 member states or a qualified majority. Key players Germany and Italy are reportedly undecided. The EU has long been divided over its approach to Israel, with some members staunchly backing Israel and others supporting the Palestinians. UN chief António Guterres has condemned the expansion of settlements, which are considered illegal under international law.