Brussels, 24/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 24 May, the 27 member states of the EU adopted, by the written procedure, the joint action extending the EU BAM observation mission a t the border post between the Gaza Strip and Egypt for a year, with the possibility of a six-month renewal.
This operation, which comes to an end on 25 May, was put in place in November 2005 on the basis of an agreement between the parties, to ensure the only road crossing between the Palestinian territories and the outside world, without going through Israel, remained open. 75 European police officers monitor the movement of people and goods and train the Palestinian staff working there. Apart from a few technical adjustments, the mandate will not be altered and the operation will continue to be led by Italian General Pietro Pistolese. 400,000 people have passed through this border post since the arrival of the Europeans, but it is not open permanently (only about one hundred days per year) since the abduction of an Israeli soldier in June 2006.
Speaking in the Gaza Strip on Thursday morning, Javier Solana welcomed this decision. (oj)