15/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - During its visit, on Monday and Tuesday to the Middle East, the EU Troika made an identical speech to the Israeli leaders (Prime Minister Sharon and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Peres) and the Palestinians (President Arafat): it is necessary that the violence ends, to continue the dialogue. According to Commission sources, Mr Peres says he is prepared to cooperate with the EU in the search for paths to a peace settlement. To the Israelis, the Troika recalled the importance of lifting the economic blockade that is suffocating the Palestinian territories and to release the financial flows towards them. As for the Palestinians, they have (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.3) accepted the conditions for the granting of an EU aid of EUR 60 million: aid management in transparency and under the sole aegis of the Ministry of Finance, and the adopting of an austerity budget and anti-corruption measures.