Brussels, 17/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - Through one of its spokespeople, the European Commission confirmed on Thursday that it was presently drawing up a list of damage caused by Israeli forces to projects funded by the Union and by its Member States in the territories under Palestinian authority. Referring to a declaration Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Piqué made to the Spanish press, he declared that the Commission was aligning itself on the latter's statements by which once the list had been drawn up, it should be the subject of an "appropriate follow-up, yet to be defined", in the framework of the General Affairs Council. Current President-in-Office of the Council, Mr. Piqué was in Israel on Wednesday where he had talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Israeli President Moshe Katzav, and the leaders of the Israeli pacifist movements, as well as Deputy Prime Minister responsible for foreign affairs, Shimon Peres. The Spanish minister stated that "there is great scepticism regarding the current attitude of the Israeli Prime Minister, and the constant violence between Palestinians and Israelis, but we agree that we cannot lose faith and must seek a political way out". Deploring the demolition of Palestinian houses and other infrastructures at Gaza Airport, Mr. Piqué acknowledged that "the situation is very difficult", but reaffirmed "the responsibility of the EU in achieving the resumption of the peace process between Israel and Palestine". Josep Piqué considers that "it is difficult to make specific short-term proposals, but we realise that without negotiations, there is no possible solution". He pointed out that both in Cairo and Amman, "we have exchanged ideas on how to reinforce international co-ordination - co-operation between the EU, the USA, the UN, Russia, Jordan and Egypt - so that the parties understand that they must negotiate". Josep Piqué was continuing his trip to the Middle East on Thursday by going to Ramallah, where he was to meet the Chairman of the Palestinian National Authority, Yasser Arafat. The President of the EU Council will then go on to Syria and Lebanon.