Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-01-26-Speech-3-079"
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"en.20050126.7.3-079"2
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".
Mr President, firstly I share the analysis of our High Representative, Mr Solana. For me it is also a pleasure to address you for the first time in a debate on the Middle East, particularly because for the first time in many years it sounds a more cautiously optimistic note. So it is wonderful to be here and to share with you the Commission’s thoughts, which of course very much complement what Mr Solana said.
We also look to an improved political dialogue that will allow us to raise issues not only pertaining to the peace process but also to weapons of mass destruction. I shall be going to the region shortly and will take up these ideas with the Palestinians and the Israelis. Obviously, the parties themselves will have to do the main part of the work, in particular confidence-building. I can already see that there is a renewed willingness to do so. Israel can offer confidence-building measures, for instance on security cooperation, the release of prisoners, relaxing restrictions on movement, easing economic pressure, better enforcement of the rules of engagement and means of reducing the number of civilian causalities.
It is clear that the Palestinians must reciprocate or even anticipate actions on security issues. They must consolidate the intra-Palestinian ceasefire, address Israeli concerns that the ceasefire will not strengthen the extremists, collect illegal arms and close the tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border.
There are many things to be done but the most important is that the European Union should be united in its wish and will – as Javier Solana said – to help both sides to go down this avenue towards a peace that is worthy of being called peace. For that, we also look to the visit of President Bush and his team to Brussels on 22 February, where the Middle East peace process will be at the top of our agenda. If we can at least take some small steps forward there, then we will have a chance to work together, in parallel with the Americans, on the broader Middle East issue, something we are both committed to.
Indeed, there are very encouraging developments in the region. The President-in-Office of the Council, Mr Asselborn, has just visited Jerusalem and Gaza and he feels that both parties are moving forward, as Mr Solana has just outlined. Polls taken since the Palestinian elections also show that a growing majority of Palestinians and Israelis now support a peace process and a peaceful resolution to the conflict on the basis of the two-state solution. That, per se, is a very important and encouraging development.
The presidential elections went very well. I am very grateful to and have a deep appreciation for Mr Michel Rocard, who has done a very good job under difficult circumstances, together with his team. I would also like to thank again the Election Observation Mission, along with Members of this Parliament who contributed to its success.
The political outcome of the election gives us reason for hope. Palestinian voters showed their desire for peace and democracy and the elections have now become a stimulus for a more democratic development of the region at large. At the same time we have taken good note of the election report and we will work with the Palestinians to iron out shortcomings in the election process, particularly when it comes to the independence of the Central Election Commission. We believe this is very important in the light of the forthcoming parliamentary and municipal elections.
We share with Mr Solana the view that Abu Mazen is a credible partner for peace and a capable interlocutor for Palestinian institution-building, including the reform of the security structures. He has already shown leadership in the last few days with the deployment of police in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, the restructuring of the security services and, as was reported in the media on Monday, agreeing with Palestinian factions on a cessation of attacks on Israel. That all adds up to a very cautiously positive movement.
It is important that the international community now acts quickly to support him. The Palestinian people are expecting tangible signs of progress: improving their social and economic situation, reconstituting respect for law and order, and progress on institution-building and reform. I can promise you that the European Commission will play its part.
I owe a lot to my predecessor, Mr Patten, who held up the Palestinian flag at very difficult moments. I also thank those of you in Parliament who supported him. I will continue to do this and especially now, when it is even more important, because it is the right moment to do more. I hope we will also have a chance to step up our cooperation on various projects.
In 2004 we allocated approximately EUR 250 million, and we will provide a similar amount in 2005. We will look very carefully at where our money is being spent.
We now have a new instrument, decided upon in December, in the form of the action plans under our Neighbourhood Policy. These contain political and also economic measures that will assist the peace process. They include trade facilitation, the promotion of good governance and respect for human rights, understanding and combating the devastating influence of incitement to hatred, the easing of access to and promotion of respect for international humanitarian law, and encouraging cooperation on very practical issues that we hope will lead to an improvement in living conditions – the environment, water, energy and transport."@en1
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