Brussels, 11/04/2007 (Agence Europe) -The commissioner in charge of external relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, on Wednesday offered the technical assistance of the European Commission to increase the transparency and accountability of the finance minister of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which may pave the way for an extension of the Temporary International Mechanism for the Palestinians (TIM) and, eventually, to allow direct EU aid to the PA to be resumed. The offer of technical assistance sends out a “strong signal”, but it does not mean that the European Union will resume its direct aid to the Palestinian government “overnight”, Ms Ferrero-Waldner told the press after her meeting with the Palestinian finance minister, Salam Fayyad. The resumption of direct aid will depend on whether the new Palestinian national union government (Fatah/Hamas) observes the three criteria laid down by the Quartet (renunciation of violence, recognition of Israel's right to exist, acceptance of agreements concluded by the OLP), but also the individual “words and deeds” of the ministers, the commissioner explained. In the meantime, the TIM mechanism will continue to function, “provided we find the money required”, she said. Contact with the finance minister will be “intensified” with a view to improving management of the aid and will thus help to extend the TIM, and to reinforce the Palestinian institutions.
Salam Fayyad explained to the press that the Palestinian Authority was currently going through a “serious financial crisis” due to the suspension of direct international aid. The PA still requires a billion EUR in international aid (not just from the EU, he added) to pay for its current expenditure this year and avoid a “devastating” humanitarian crisis among the Palestinian population, the minister stressed. Mr Fayyad also stressed that the national union government respects all the agreements concluded by the old OLP. (hb)