Brussels, 13 March 2006
Commission meets Palestinian President Abbas
Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, and Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will meet Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, in Strasbourg this week. President Barroso will receive him on Wednesday the 15th of March. This meeting will be preceded by a working dinner that Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will hold with Abbas on Tuesday the 14th of March. These meetings will provide an opportunity to hear from President Abbas his thinking on the prospects for the formation of a new Palestinian Authority following the January elections and to discuss the current crisis in Palestinian Authorities finances.
President Barroso said: "President Abbas has made clear his determination to form a government in the Palestinian Territories that will respect its international obligations. He has our full support in this difficult task. The objective must be to put in place a new administration that renounces violence, recognises Israel, and abides by existing peace agreements."
Benita Ferrero-Waldner said: "No donor has done more than we have to help stabilise the financial situation facing the caretaker government. I look forward to discussing with President Abbas the continuing challenges facing the PA and the donor community. The EU will continue to be a reliable partner for the Palestinian people, around half of whom live in deep poverty. At the same time we will stand by our principles, and all financial assistance to the new government must be measured against their commitment to seek peace by peaceful means."
The European Commission has earmarked at the beginning of this month a package worth more than €120 million to meet the basic needs of the Palestinian population and to help stabilise the finances of the current caretaker government. €40 million will ensure the continued and uninterrupted supply of essential public services such as electricity and water. €64 million has been allocated to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). This emergency relief will help alleviate the hardships of the most vulnerable people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
In addition, the European Commission has agreed to the release of €17.5 million held over from 2005 in the World Bank Reform Trust Fund, in order to help the caretaker government meet obligations including salary payments.
For more information:
Download Document Files: https://unispal.un.org/pdfs/IP06305f.pdf
Document Type: French text, Press Release
Document Sources: European Commission
Subject: Assistance, Situation in the OPT including Jerusalem
Publication Date: 13/03/2006