Nine European Union countries have jointly urged the EU Commission to take steps to end trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, marking a rare coordinated move aimed at aligning EU economic policy with international legal standards.

Legal and Ethical Grounding

In a letter seen by Reuters, foreign ministers from Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden asked EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas to develop a framework to block the import and sale of goods and services originating from settlements deemed illegal under international law.

The ministers referenced the July 2024 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which concluded that Israel’s settlement enterprise violates international law and obliges states to avoid enabling or sustaining it through economic ties.

“Trade Must Align With Our Legal Duties”

Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib stated, “Trade cannot be divorced from our legal and moral responsibilities,” adding that the EU’s largest trading relationship in the Middle East—worth €42.6 billion ($48.9 billion) in 2024—must not subsidize occupation.

The ministers stressed the need for “concrete and effective” proposals by the Commission, noting that no such discussions had been formally initiated to date.

Ireland Takes the Lead

Ireland recently became the first EU country to propose legislation banning the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The bill, expected to reach parliament this summer, follows Ireland’s formal recognition of the State of Palestine in 2024 alongside Spain and Norway.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said continuing economic ties under current conditions would “undermine EU credibility and violate basic human rights norms.”

The move comes amid growing backlash in Europe over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and rising concern over its treatment of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).