Written answers
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Department of Foreign Affairs
International Agreements
9:00 pm
Chris Andrews (Dublin South East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 614: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on banning the importation of goods originating from settlements in the West Bank that are illegal under international law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14995/10]
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Goods produced in settlements in the West Bank are not per se illegal, but they are not entitled to benefit from the EU's preferential tariff rates. This principle has been recently confirmed in an important European Court ruling in the Brita case.
The total exclusion of goods originating in settlements, without also affecting general West Bank produce, would involve significant legal and practical complexities. This is an area of EU competence, and I do not consider that there is any realistic prospect of obtaining agreement to such a proposal at EU level.
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