The allocation announced by European Commissioner for external relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner in favour of the Palestinian population for 2005 will amount to approximately 250 million euros. Following a visit to the region and the ceasefire proclaimed by Israel and by the Palestinian Authority, the EU Commissioner emphasized the Union’s intention to “continue to provide political and financial support for the peace process”, in particular “to permit newly elected Palestinian President Abbas to improve in a tangible way the living condition of the population”. The EU aid will especially be used for the reconstruction of infrastructures damaged or destroyed during the intifada and for the restoration of basic public services, and will comprise a package of 70 million euros for the necessary institutional and financial reforms of the Palestinian Authority. For further information, also on relations between the EU and the West Bank and Gaza Strip, consult the website http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/gaza/intro/index.htm.
