|
Trending Topics
|
European Commission Warns Ireland Against Israeli Settlement Import Ban
(Irish Times) Simon Carswell - Ireland could face infringement proceedings by the EU or a third party if a bill that would ban imports from Israeli settlements is passed, the European Commission has warned. The legislation passed its first vote in the Seanad in July. However, the Attorney General noted that trade is an exclusive competence of the EU and under EU law Ireland cannot introduce such a unilateral ban. An EU Commission trade official told a Department of Business official this month that enacting the bill "would be in contravention of the EU's competence on trade matters" under a treaty that covers common commercial policy for member states.