Brussels, 25/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 25 March, the European Commission stated that 2014 was a “very difficult year for Palestine”.
In the progress report that it adopted, the Commission highlights the conflict in Gaza last summer, which was bloody and destructive, and the increased tensions in the whole of the West Bank. It states that “the restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation” continued to hamper Palestine's economic development “seriously”, to undermine the financial viability of the Palestinian Authority and to limit its ability for action. In 2014, the Palestinian economy went into recession. However, the capacity and responsibility of the police and civil defence services was strengthened, and budgetary discipline improved.
For 2015, the Commission calls on Palestine to make progress on the intra-Palestinian reconciliation, on the resumption of full governmental responsibility in Gaza, and on the organisation of free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections in the whole of Palestine. The Palestinians are asked to continue the positive measures with view to a swift resumption of the peace process. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)