Brussels, 10/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 10 December, leader of the S&D Group at the European Parliament Gianni Pittella signed a partnership agreement with the Palestinian party Fatah. Pittella met Nabil Shaath, the senior Palestinian negotiator and Fatah's commissioner for international relations. “The renewal of our partnership is now very timely. The common goal for the S&D Group and Fatah is the fulfilment of Palestinian national rights to establish a free and independent state of Palestine living side-by-side with Israel in peace and security”, Pittella stated.
The agreement especially focuses on an exchange of political background and common work. Pittella said that their co-operation was based on shared values including “just and lasting peace in the Middle East”. The first partnership agreement dates back to 2010.
Both the S&D Group and Fatah “are fully convinced that Europe must play a decisive role in the peace process, contributing to stopping the endless spiral of violence in Palestine and Israel”, Pittella added. (CG)