LAST UPDATE | 22 May

THE NETHERLANDS HAS agreed to ban the import and trade of goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. 

At a press conference, the country’s prime minister Rob Jetten said his cabinet is seeking an urgent advisory from its council of state in order to implement the proposed three-year ban as soon as possible. 

It comes amid a high-level EU trade meeting in Brussels today, where Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Helen McEntee was set to urge her counterparts from across the bloc to support Ireland’s stance for the EU-wide ban. 

The push comes amid heightened outcry this week after an Israeli minister taunted activists from the Gaza aid flotilla, many of whom are EU citizens.

In a statement this afternoon, McEntee said Ireland was among nine EU member states to call for the European Commission to ban trade with illegal settlements.

“Illegal settlements are a breach of international law. Europe’s trade policy must be consistent with its legal and moral obligations,” she said. 

Illegal settlements are a breach of international law. Europe’s trade policy must be consistent with its legal and moral obligations.

— Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) May 22, 2026

Speaking to reporters on her way into the meeting, McEntee confirmed she would be calling for the European Commission to put forward proposals that would ban the importation of trade from the illegal settlements.

“I think it is time that we take action at a European level, and time that we respond to these constant breaches of international law,” she said. 

On Thursday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he believed the footage had “accelerated” a desire for a stronger response from EU leaders.

The meeting of EU members to discuss the impact of conflicts in the Middle East on trade and supply chains is the final such meeting before Ireland takes over the presidency of the EU Council in July.

At the end of the meeting, Cyprus will formally hand over the chair to McEntee, representing Ireland.

The meeting will also focus on the EU-US ‘Turnberry deal’ in the Foreign Affairs Council on Trade gathering.

McEntee stressed the importance of expanding the EU’s network of free trade agreements to diversify supply chains and create new export opportunities for European businesses.

“The EU’s ambitious suite of FTAs is integral as we look to diversify our critical supply chains and open up export markets for European companies,” she said. She added that trade will play a central role in the “One Europe, One Market” roadmap, which will help guide Ireland’s EU presidency over the next six months.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, McEntee said ministers would discuss how the EU can strengthen economic resilience and reduce strategic risks linked to regional instability.

The minister said she remains “deeply concerned” about the conflicts in the Middle East and Gulf region and hopes current ceasefires will hold and lead to longer term peace.

McEntee added that the recent agreement between the EU and Donald Trump’s White House on the Turnberry deal – which seeks to reduce the risk posed by Trump’s previous painful tariff threats – was an important step for transatlantic trade relations.

“Stability in the EU-US trade relationship benefits us all,” she said.

“This will be a priority for me as chair of the FAC Trade Council from July. Stable EU-US trade relations are good for both the European and US economies and help to deliver jobs and economic growth.”

She said ministers would discuss how the EU can strengthen economic resilience and reduce strategic risks linked to regional instability.