Strasbourg, 14/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - The EPP-ED Group is willing to envisage the continuation, during a transitional period, of EU aid to the Palestinian Authority for concrete projects, verifying that Community funds have been used as planned, the president of the Group, Hans-Gert Pöttering, said at a press conference on Tuesday. He was unable at this stage to state how long such a transitional period could last. The Hamas-led government, he immediately warned, must nonetheless know that this aid will only be provided in the medium and long term if it recognises Israel's right of existence and security. He said they were not over-pessimistic as, according to poll surveys, only 5% of those who voted for Hamas are in favour of their leaders' most radical policies. The CDU elected member exclaimed that they did not want someone like the current Iranian president to “get control of Palestine, and neither do the Palestinians want that as, in the end, Palestine does not care about Iran”. Mahmoud Abbas' visit and his speech on Wednesday in Parliament will provide an opportunity for the president of the Palestinian Authority to express his views for the future, Mr Pöttering noted (he is to have a personal meeting with Mr Abbas in Strasbourg).