Strasbourg, 13/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - To close the debate on the Middle East (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.4), the European Parliament adopted a recommendation on Thursday presented by the chair of its Foreign Affairs Committee, Elmar Brok in which it calls on the EU to adopt a joint strategy for the Middle East, stressing both the rights of the Palestinian people and Israel, and condemning both Israel's "extra-judicial execution" policy and the "acts of terrorism committed by Palestinian organisations". In addition, the EP places emphasis on the Palestinian Authority "immediately strengthening all actions necessary to prevent acts of terrorism coming from its territory", but also calls on the European Commission to "continue to support" the Palestinian Authority and "its institutions", while ensuring the "correct use of resources". By adopting an amendment by the EDD Group (justification: the recommendation must be "short and effective"), plenary erased a passage citing the withdrawal of Israel from the occupied territories of East-Jerusalem.
Furthermore, the MEPs decided to send a very high-level parliamentary delegation to the region, and call for the Team of Special Envoy Miguel Angel Moratinos to be strengthened. Hoping that, in close co-operation with the United States and all parties to the peace process, , the EU "would take a political-diplomatic initiative that could take the form of a new conference bringing together all the countries concerned", they finally welcomed the statement by President Bush in favour of the constitution of the Palestinian State "on condition that the right of existence of the Sovereign State of Israel is respected", and urging the American President to "act resolutely to translate his statement into facts".