Brussels – “Proof of origin makes it possible to determine whether products come from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and, consequently, whether or not to grant preferential treatment. However, this information is not currently included in the statistics; we are therefore considering introducing a requirement to explicitly state, in the import declaration, that the product originates from the settlements, in order to collect the relevant statistics.” This was stated today (5 November) by the Director for Customs Affairs at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (TAXUD), Matthias Petschke, at the European Parliament during a debate on the progress of EU trade measures concerning products from Israeli settlements in the Committee on International Trade (INTA).
In response to the concerns raised by some Member States regarding checks on the labelling of products originating from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the occupied territories, Petschke emphasised that countries are required to report any cases where they have encountered problems, providing evidence. At present, the Commission has noted “a few cases which it is seeking to address with the Member States concerned and the Israeli authorities.” The aim of this exercise “is to ensure that preferential arrangements are denied where appropriate.” The Director for Customs Affairs also clarified that it is essential to “consider the proof of origin,” because “it allows us to identify whether a product comes from a legal settlement or not” and consequently “to decide whether or not to grant” the so-called “preference clause.” For this reason, Member States are being asked “to examine products properly, to review risk profiles and to step up controls.” In this regard, the MEP for Patriots for Europe (PfE), Lídia Pereira, questioned whether the cases of fraud were genuine, particularly given that there is an electronic system in place to monitor them.
A number of MEPs have asked representatives at the Berlaymont Building why the EU executive is at a standstill regarding the proposal for a formal ban at EU-wide level on trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Particularly in light of the fact that, On 8 September, 12 countries (eleven European nations plus Canada) announced restrictive measures and economic sanctions against the trade in goods originating from Israeli settlements in the West Bank. “We want a proper ban,” announced MEP (S&D), Kathleen Van Brempt.
However, the debate was characterised more by uncertainty than by concrete proposals. Renew MEP Ľubica Karvašová emphasised that, despite the situation being at a standstill, “the Commission cannot afford to stop.” According to the MEP from La Sinistra, Danilo della Valle (M5S), the Berlaymont building “is hiding behind legal procedures just to avoid taking action.” The Greens MEP, Catarina Viera, also pointed out that in the past, with regard to gas imports from Russia, “legislative measures were introduced, so it is not clear why this cannot be done now as well.” Similarly, the independent MEP, Branislav Ondruš, added: “We want trade measures with a clear legal basis; the Commission is obliged to deliver.”
Finally, during the debate, the Director for Neighbouring Countries, Industry, Goods, Regulatory Cooperation and Public Procurement at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade (DG Trade), Léon Delvaux, took a clearer stance, pointing out that the EU Commission’s proposal, issued on 17 September 2025, to suspend the EU–Israel Association Agreement regarding breaches of Article 2 on respect for human rights and democratic principles, “is still on the Council’s agenda,” where Member States have been unable to reach a qualified majority.
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