EU considers tariffs on imports from illegal Israeli settlements – POLITICO

BRUSSELS — The European Commission is proposing tough measures to reduce imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, as part of options presented to national capitals this week.

A paper from the EU's executive branch, marked confidential and seen by POLITICO, states that "strengthened enforcement may reduce imports from settlements channelled into the EU in violation of existing rules, without requiring new EU legal instruments."

Among the ideas being considered are an import licensing system, whereby goods from illegal settlements would need special permission to be exported to the bloc; tariffs targeting goods originating in the settlements; or an outright ban on imports from illegal settlements.