Kallas: European Commission to impose taxes on Israeli goods

In an interview with Euronews, EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaya Kallas confirmed strategy to suspend trade provisions within Israel's Association Agreement - The EU.

Trade between the EU and Israel stood at 42.6 billion euros in 2024, and preferential treatment accounts for about 37% of that amount, Kallas added.

So it's a considerable amount, and when it comes to preferential treatment, then 37% of that trade really has preferential treatment”, she told Euronews.

Kallas stressed that: “So, of course, this step will have a high cost for Israel”, noting the importance of this political and economic action.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced for the first time the plan to target Israeli trade during last week's address to the EU situation. The commission is expected to formally agree to the proposals Wednesday.

The issue must be approved by a qualified majority of member states, which means at least one of the largest countries, as well. Germany or ItalyI have to support the plan if it will succeed.

So far, the two countries have blocked all proposals at the EU level aimed at putting pressure on Israel to change the course of war.

Kallas said that if countries blocking the progress of the measures disagree with the plan, it would have to come up with alternatives, especially if they accept that the situation on the ground in Gaza is “unsupportable”.

The query you raised is very accurate. Will it pass to the Council (European)”, Kallas said.
“We had very intensive discussions at the Foreign Affairs Council on this”, she added, commenting on the deadlock at the EU level. /Periscopi/