MEDA programme and financial support to Palestine: evaluation, implementation and control

The European Parliament adopted the resolution based on the own-initiative report drafted by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP-ED, EL) on MEDA and financial support to Palestine. (Please see the document dated 05/06/2007.) Parliament felt that it was important for the purposes of the maintenance of public order, that security forces committed to peace and stability are trained and equipped including with police arms. The financing of such training and equipment must be carried out with appropriate safeguards, under the authority of the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, so as to avoid funds being used for other purposes or illegal acts. Parliament underlined that not paying the salaries of civil servants, including the security forces, contributes to the deterioration of the political, social and economic situation in the Palestinian territories.

It moved on to stress the dangers of the current collapse of the Palestinian administrative authorities, and the need for the EU and the international community to go beyond their humanitarian commitment and invest once again in capacity building and security to avoid jeopardising the Palestinians' living conditions in the very long term.

The Commission was asked to consider strategies, using the TIM or another body of a permanent nature, in cooperation with other financial instruments, which could cover, in the near future, not only urgent problems but a greater number of the needs of a larger proportion of the Palestinian population. In any event, Parliament stated that it sought to assist political and economic developments that would gradually reduce the reliance of the Palestinian Authority on international aid.