Friday

29th Mar 2024

EU demands accounts from Arafat

The European Union is ready to stop financial support for the Palestinians from October, if some money is not accounted for. In a letter sent to Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat, EU Commissioner Chris Patten has demanded that spending for the July-August period be accounted for by October at the latest, reports Die Welt.

The ten million Euro paid per month by the EU to help the Palestinians has been criticised most notably by the Israeli Government for being used by Yassir Arafat’s Palestinian Authority to fund terrorist activities. The European Parliament decided in June to unblock the transfers after examining the allegations and finding that there was no evidence that EU funds had been used purposes other than those agreed. The Israeli Government subsequently withdrew its criticisms.

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Patten vigorously defends EU money to Palestine

The European Parliament’s block on the transfer of some 18.7 million euro to the Middle East Process budget was lifted on Wednesday. After a forceful address by external relations Commissioner, Chris Patten, both the parliament’s foreign affairs and budgetary committees unanimously voted to release the money, which was on hold after allegations that the Palestinian Authority was using it to fund terrorist activities. The Commission agreed to three tasks: to strengthen the monitoring of direct budgetary assistance, to guarantee maximum transparency on the use of funds and to investigate any new suggestions of improper use of funds as soon as they arise, while keeping the parliament informed at all times. While the majority of MEPs in the foreign affairs committee supported Patten's rebuttal of the allegations, some MEPs remained unhappy.

Opinion

EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania

Among the largest sources of financing for energy transition of central and eastern European countries, the €60bn Modernisation Fund remains far from the public eye. And perhaps that's one reason it is often used for financing fossil gas projects.

Opinion

EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania

Among the largest sources of financing for energy transition of central and eastern European countries, the €60bn Modernisation Fund remains far from the public eye. And perhaps that's one reason it is often used for financing fossil gas projects.

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