Lisbon, Sept. 26, 2025 (Lusa) - The Portuguese company included on the “blacklist” linked to Israeli settlements, released on Friday by the UN, claims to have a "neutral and apolitical role" in the countries where it operates and has asked to be removed from that database.
In a letter sent to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to which Lusa had access, Steconfer emphasises that it "does not get involved in political or governmental decisions" and that "its role is strictly limited to the technical execution of works as a subcontractor for large engineering, procurement and construction contractors".
Furthermore, the company adds, "it has no direct contractual relationship with the Government of Israel or any government authority in the region".
The explanations from the company, the only Portuguese company included in the updated list of 158 companies linked, according to the UN agency, to the development of Israeli settlements considered illegal under international law, were given in a letter sent to the UN on 2 September, but not yet published.
Contacted by Lusa, Steconfer said it had already responded formally to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on 24th September, "within the deadline and in the format required by the UN itself, so that the response could be published on the organisation's official website".
However, an official source from the company said, "the UN did not disclose this response, despite having communicated that it would do so."
Most of the companies on the updated list are based in Israel, but companies from several countries other than Portugal are included, such as Canada, China, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.
"This report highlights the responsibility of companies operating in conflict-affected contexts to ensure that their activities do not contribute to human rights violations," said the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in a statement.
Asserting its "commitment to the defence of human rights, international law and the values of transparency and peace", the Portuguese company points out that it operates in more than 15 countries, "providing public transport systems with the aim of improving mobility, sustainability and the well-being of the community".
The company assures in the letter that "does not engage in political or governmental decisions" and contests the High Commissioner's arguments, stating that it did not supply any equipment or material directly to Israeli settlements, that all materials used were purchased and delivered exclusively within the scope of the Jerusalem light rail project, and that it hopes its projects "benefit the civilian population in general, without discrimination".
Furthermore, it adds, the company "does not own, control or exploit the region's natural resources" and has a "policy of strict neutrality", refraining from engaging "in political discourse or decisions in conflict-sensitive regions".
Steconfer also states that it will launch a mechanism to "identify, assess and mitigate potential human rights risks associated with operations in internationally disputed territories".
In the same letter, the Santarém-based company asks the UN to reconsider its inclusion on the list, not least because it "has no intention of benefiting economically from the settlements and is taking proactive measures to align its operations with international human rights standards".
Although the naming of companies does not imply associated sanctions, the UN agency requests that those included "take appropriate measures to address the adverse human rights impact" of their activities.
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