Brussels, 22/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has adopted two measures aimed at accelerating the construction, at Gaza International Airport, of infrastructures for cargo. On the one hand, the person responsible for the project will be chosen according to a negotiated procedure rather than a tender procedure. On the other, the Commission has decided to finance the construction of temporary cargo facilities, which should allow for air cargo transport from 2001.
Gaza International Airport, opened in October 1998, now only allows for passenger transport. Last December, the Commission decided to fund to the tune of 25 million euro the construction of the cargo infrastructure. Commissioner Patten stressed the project's importance for the Palestinian economy, which is being slowed down through the lack of "independent access into the outside world"; it will, notably, allow for the full implementation of the interim trade and cooperation agreement between the EU and the PLO.