The European Commission is expected to present options on how to restrict imports of goods coming from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories ahead of a gathering of EU Foreign Ministers in July, according to five diplomats who spoke to Euronews.
Following a deadlock that had persisted for months, the EU executive has been under sustained pressure from a majority of European governments to put forth a concrete proposal on restricting trade with the settlements, which are considered illegal under international law.
During a meeting of foreign affairs ministers in Luxembourg on Monday, Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica said that, given the strong push from member states, the Commission would prepare some options before the next ministerial meeting on 13 July, five diplomatic sources told Euronews, granted anonymity to speak candidly.
However, which types of options will be proposed is still unclear. The Commission has so far been reluctant to come forward with trade restriction proposals, considering that the Council has not been able to find a qualified majority to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, a much more significant measure already on the table.
