Brussels, 28/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - The entry into force of a new European neighbourhood policy action plan in 2013 is “a major step forward” for bilateral EU-Palestine relations, said the European Commission on 27 March in its progress report on Palestine. Last year the EU continued to be the major donor to the Palestinian Authority (PA) and, through the Eupol Copps mission, helped the PA build Palestinian institutions in the areas of policing and criminal justice under Palestinian ownership.
However, the “Israeli occupation” and the restrictions it imposes “heavily” hinder Palestinian economic development and are the main obstacle to reforms - especially to the PA's financial sustainability, in the Commission's opinion. The Commission calls for progress in settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Commission recalls that the PA is not effective in Gaza - where freedom of expression has again deteriorated, the activities of civil society are limited and the death penalty is still practised.
The Commission calls for the PA to continue its efforts to “hold genuine democratic presidential and legislative elections” in the West Bank and Gaza, to adopt a unified penal code and to clarify the responsibilities of the three main judicial institutions. It also underlines the need for steps on the civil service, and continued development of the legal and institutional framework for an integrated system of water and waste-water management. (CG)