EU stands by labeling move as Israel freezes contacts

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Brussels • The European Union is standing by its decision to put special labels on West Bank exports despite Israel's move to freeze contacts on Mideast peace issues with EU representatives.

Israel has been up in arms since the EU announced that goods produced in Israeli settlements must have special labels and cannot say they were made in Israel.

EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said Monday "there is no great change from the EU perspective, and there is EU unity on this."

She could provide no details on who might be hit by the Israeli freeze.

EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini also sought clarification Monday from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the Paris climate conference.

The move is unlikely to hinder the work of the Mideast diplomatic quartet.