European Union foreign ministers convened in Brussels on July 13 to assess support for new trade measures targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas opened the meeting by emphasizing that the situation in the region has become increasingly untenable and further complicates prospects for a two-state solution.
The discussions center on a confidential European Commission document presenting three distinct approaches: an import licensing framework, punitive tariffs, or a comprehensive trade ban. While the meeting was not anticipated to produce immediate policy decisions, diplomats used it as an opportunity to gauge member state backing for advancing such measures. The EU has historically faced significant obstacles in reaching consensus on Middle East policy matters due to longstanding divisions among its 27 member states regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The backdrop for these discussions includes recent escalations in settlement activity. Israel’s Security Cabinet approved plans to establish 13 new settlements in the central West Bank this month. Data from the Palestinian Forum for Israeli Studies indicates a dramatic acceleration in outpost creation, with establishments rising from an average of eight annually between 2012 and 2022 to 86 during 2025. Violence attributed to settlers has also intensified, with 2026 marking the deadliest year on record since tracking began a decade ago, encompassing attacks on Palestinians, property destruction, and agricultural disruption.
Several member states, including Spain, the Netherlands, and the Republic of Ireland, have already enacted unilateral trade restrictions on settlement products. Belgium’s foreign minister characterized the Commission’s options as insufficient, calling for more concrete proposals. A significant procedural question remains unresolved regarding whether such measures would require unanimous approval or a qualified majority vote, with key nations Germany and Italy still undecided. In May, the EU previously sanctioned four entities and three individuals over alleged human rights violations against Palestinians. An International Court of Justice advisory opinion from July 2024 determined that Israeli occupation and settlements are illegal under international law and called on states to halt trade and investment relations supporting the situation.