European Commission to resume support to Gaza Power Plant – European Commission press release/Non-UN document

IP/07/1242

Brussels, 21 August 2007

Commission to resume support to Gaza Power Plant

Following a meeting that took place today with Palestinian Prime Minister Dr Fayyad, the European Commission is willing to carry out immediately the necessary joint Commission/Palestinian Authority audits to ensure that fuel aid in Gaza remains properly managed.

In agreement with the Palestinian Authority, the Commission has decided meanwhile to resume tomorrow Wednesday 22 August, on a provisional basis, deliveries of fuel to the Gaza Power Plant with the expectation that any further measures and controls needed following the audit will be put into place immediately.

The Commission has always done its utmost to provide emergency assistance to the population in Gaza and has always acted to ensure that this assistance reaches the people it is addressed to, the Palestinians in need.

The Commission will be looking carefully with the Palestinian Authority into the audit results and will proceed according to such results.

Background

Following security concerns and information received indicating that steps were being taken by Hamas to divert part of the revenues deriving from the production of electricity in Gaza, the European Commission interrupted the support for the delivery of fuel to the Gaza Power Plant on Saturday 18 of August 2007.