'Unanimous support' needed to review EU-Israel trade ties

The EU's next trade commissioner has said any review of EU-Israel trade can only come as a result of the unanimous support of EU member states.

Maroš Šefčovič was responding to a question from Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan during his hearing at the European Parliament as trade commissioner-designate.

Ireland and Spain have been pushing member states and the European Commission to threaten trade measures against Israel due to its activities in Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank.

Israel has been accused of breaching Article 2, the human rights clause in the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which governs bilateral relations, including trade.

So far, there has been no consensus among member states over the call by Ireland and Spain for the trade relationship to be examined by the European Commission.