Finland's trade minister says Helsinki will not join EU import ban on Israeli settlements

Finland's foreign trade and development minister Ville Tavio told reporters that the country will not draft nor endorse any EU initiative to impose import restrictions on goods originating from Israeli settlements. He said Finland's priority is realism and that trade limits would not be an effective lever against Israel. Tavio's remarks effectively nullify Finland's participation in a recent 12-nation statement, coordinated by France and Britain, that backs restrictions and was signed by all Nordic countries.

While acknowledging the ongoing violence in the occupied territories and describing settlement violence as a long-standing problem, Tavio rejected using trade measures as pressure, urging the EU to focus on diplomatic engagement and addressing Hamas. The debate continues at EU level, with some members pushing for a qualified-majority vote while others demand unanimity, making consensus difficult.