Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002928/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR)
In recent months, Ireland has revived the so-called Occupied Territories Bill[1], which aims to restrict or fully prohibit the importation to Ireland of any goods produced in Israeli settlements, including those in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. However, according to Article 3(1)(e) and Article 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), only the EU institutions may adopt trade restrictions or embargoes. Individual Member States are therefore not allowed to impose unilateral trade restrictions. Moreover, previous Commission statements[2] on an earlier version of the bill mentioned how it would be in breach of EU trade rules.
- 1.Is the Commission aware of the renewed debate on the Occupied Territories Bill in the Houses of the Oireachtas (the Irish Parliament)?
- 2.Does the Commission consider these developments compatible with EU trade competence under Article 207 TFEU, and if not, in what way do they constitute a breach?
- 3.Will the Commission take legal action against Ireland if the adoption of this law breaches EU trade rules, and what form might such actions take?
Submitted: 16.7.2025
- [1] Leahy, P. ‘Foreign affairs committee begins discussions on contentious Occupied Territories Bill’, Irish Times, 1 July 2025, https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2025/07/01/foreign-affairs-committee-begins-discussions-on-contentious-occupied-territories-bill/.
- [2] European Parliament, ‘Answer given by Vice-President Mogherini on behalf of the European Commission [to Written Question P-000081-2019]’, 14 February 2019, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/P-8-2019-000081-ASW_EN.html.