Brussels, 19/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has approved financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority to support the ongoing reform process. Thus, 5.45 million euro will be allocated to the implementation of the administrative, financial, economic and legal reforms - including preparing the elections of early 2003, and 2.5 million euro will finance the electoral monitoring mission that the European Union is to send.
Chris Patten, Commissioner for External Relations, declared in a press release: "Despite the extremely difficult situation from a security point of view, the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian Legislative Council must pursue their progress in the timetable of the reforms. This decision has as goal to support work that can be done even in the current circumstances. We shall continue to call on Israel to do its part by getting rid of the obstacles to the reform and peace process - notably by putting an end to the curfew and the retention of customs revenue".
At the same time, the Union will pursue its budgetary support of the Palestinian authority, to the tune of 10 million euro a month.
Also continuing its aid in the humanitarian field, the Commission has just approved the granting of an additional 10 million euro for Palestinians, refugees or not, on the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and in Lebanon. This decision, focused on food, health, water cleansing and supply and psychological support, takes to 35 million in aid that Echo has given the Palestinians.