Brussels, 03/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - The President of the EU Council, Franco Frattini announced in Naples that a reform on Palestinian reforms would take place in Rome on 10 December, as well as an international donors conference to the Palestinians on 10 December.
In a declaration of the Presidency on 2 December, the EU, candidate countries and the EFTA countries welcome this initiative, as well as the Geneva initiative for peace for the Palestinians (EUROPE 2 December p 10 and 3 December p 7), the EU welcomes the initiatives from Israeli and Palestinian societies that aim to promote rapprochement and a climate of confidence and lasting peace. The Geneva Initiative, started by Yossi Beilin and Yasser Abed Rabbo are at the origin of this move, which confirms the desire among the two civil societies to attain peaceful coexistence in two independent countries, which are viable and prosperous, side by side in security, of benefit to all Israelis and Palestinians, as well as all the countries of the region. This initiative also contributes to raising public awareness of the two parties of the need to identify efforts and mutual concessions in order to reach a negotiated settlement to the conflict. In this connection, the EU consider that the documents presented on 1 December in Geneva as a valuable contribution from civil society to the Road Map established by the Quartet, which remains the basis for an immediate restart of the peace process and which has the approval of the entire international community as reflected in Resolution 1515 of the United Nations Security Council. The EU points out that it prepared to continue to support all efforts for a peaceful solution to the conflict and that it condemns the violence and terrorism in all its forms".