Stressing that it was “unacceptable” that the Palestinian Authority has not held any elections for more than 16 years, on Wednesday 12 July the European Parliament strongly urged the Palestinian political leaders “to provide for the necessary conditions to hold free, credible, inclusive, transparent and fair parliamentary and presidential elections without any further delay in order to strengthen its legitimacy”.
In the report by Evin Incir (S&D, Swedish) which they adopted (338 votes in favour, 195 against and 102 abstentions) and which makes numerous recommendations to the EU Council, the Commission and the High Representative of the Union regarding the implementation of the Union’s relations with the Palestinian Authority (PA), MEPs request they call firmly for East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to be united under the sovereign power of “one legitimate, democratic PA rule”.
In their view, the EU should work with the PA to establish a more regular political dialogue at ministerial level with a strong focus on human rights, the rule of law and the fight against terrorism. They also stress the importance of the EU-PLO Interim Association Agreement.
The European Parliament is also calling for increased funding, particularly for humanitarian aid and development assistance for the ecological transition, youth participation, democratisation, good governance and anti-corruption measures and efforts.
In this context, it expressed its concern about the Union’s strategy and the effectiveness of the financial aid disbursed in the occupied Palestinian territories, “undermined by illegal settlements, the Israeli occupation and related restrictions on the Palestinian economy”.
MEPs also call for an immediate end to Palestinian terrorism, asking the Palestinian Authority to condemn and sever all links with extremist organisations and terrorist groups active in the region.
Looking beyond relations with the Palestinians, MEPs reiterated the Union’s unwavering support for the two-state solution.
See the resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/82e (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)