Brussels, 11/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 11 July, in response to an urgent appeal from the Palestinian President Abbas, the European Commission is to execute its first action through the Temporary International Mechanism (TIM), developed by the EU at the request of the “Quartet” (EU, US, UN and Russia), in an effort to assist the Palestinian people without going through the Hamas controlled government. The TIM has therefore been implemented to provide fuel for hospitals in Gaza following the destruction by the Israeli Defence Force of the 6 transformers of the Gaza Power Plant. 45% of the population of Gaza is without electricity. Hospitals now have to rely on emergency generators and the fuel reserves are about to run out, explains a Commission press statement. According to some estimates, the TIM intervention will cost around €600,000 a month. Benita Ferrero-Waldner said this first action through the Temporary International Mechanism, “will make a tangible contribution to the continued provision of essential health services. My staff are working intensively to bring other elements of the TIM on stream”. In the political arena, the Commissioner for External Relations is demanding that the kidnapped soldier be released without delay, that there is a return to dialogue and that “all parties have a responsibility to protect civilian lives”.
TIM was ratified by the June European Council and has an envelope of €105 million.