Brussels, 25/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 24 October, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority Salam Fayyad announced the conclusion of negotiations on a new neighbourhood policy joint action plan, which sets out the objectives of their bilateral relations for the next five years.
Repeating their desire for a two-state solution, the EU and the Palestinian Authority want to deepen their relations with a view to establishing a full association agreement between the EU and the future State of Palestine, and to work together to build a Palestinian State founded on the rule of law and respect for human rights and responsible democratic institutions. The EU and the Palestinians also want to watch over the viability of the Palestinian Authority's finances and economic development in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, to support the political, economic; social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people in East Jerusalem, and to promote an inclusive development in zone C - the part of the West Bank administered by Israel.
The action plan also provides the framework for a work programme in numerous areas including justice and home affairs, economic cooperation, and questions linked to trade, energy, water and transport.
Salam Fayyad welcomed the conclusion of the negotiations on the plan, “especially with the promise this carries for establishing a fully-fledged association agreement between the EU and the future State of Palestine”. “We view this plan, in all of its components, as a key element in our effort to attain a strategic partnership with the EU, a goal which we view as absolutely essential to success in attaining a just and durable peace in our region”, he said. “The links between the Palestinians and the EU are deep and of long date. I am convinced that we can translate these links more and more into mutually beneficial results”, Ashton said (our translation throughout). (CG/transl.fl)