Brussels, 31/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - Chris Patten, European Commissioner for External Relations, has signed a financing agreement amounting to EUR 2 million to the Palestinian central bureau of statistics. "The grant will be directed specifically to consolidate that national statistical information system in order to provide relevant, reliable and timely data on the Palestinian economy, especially in the fields of price statistics, agriculture, trade, tourism and business," explained the Commission in a Communiqué. In the long run this should enable to improve planning and the follow-up of policies as well as good governance, notes the Commission. The projects, financed over three years, will cover technical assistance, training as well as the payment of local costs "including salaries". This programme is financed in the framework of the Interim Association Agreement between the EU and Palestine signed in February 1997.