The European Union announced that it intends to increase its aid provided to the Palestinians in order to rebuild their economical facilities in the Gaza Strip.
E.U Foreign relations Commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said that the E.U reserved 60 Million Euro (72 Million US Dollars) to revive the Palestinian economy and form institutions in the Palestinian areas after the Israeli withdrawal.ÂÂ
Israel completed its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip ending 38 years of military occupation, but is still controlling the Gaza air, sea and land borders.
The new E.U aid will raise the amount provided to the Palestinian Authority this year to 280 M Euro.
Waldner’s statement came following a meeting of the Quartet in Washington; the Quartet is composed of the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations.
Also, James Wolfensohn, the former president of the World Bank, and the Quartet’s commissioner for monitoring the Gaza pullout, said that he will provide the coming meeting of the Quartet with a report regarding the main issues needed to develop Gaza.
