06/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - In a press release, CSU MEP Markus Ferber welcomed the fact that the European Commission has "at last" met the European Parliament's request (made by its Budget and Foreign Affairs Committees) to replace the direct payments to the Palestinian Authority with funding for specific projects (see Europe of 2 May, p.8). Ferber is particularly pleased with he announcement by Commissioner Patten of aid for reconstruction and for SMEs which, he said, should provide new...