Ashton, Hamdallah discuss EU-Palestine ties

The European Union Monday announced the allocation of 52 million euro for development projects in Palestine to support economic and social development. This funding was announced on the day that Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah is visiting Brussels for talks with the High Representative, Catherine Ashton. The funds will go to the private sector in creating new jobs, support the construction of the new Nablus East Water Treatment Plant, finance small capital investment projects in different municipalities and continue to help deliver community services in East Jerusalem, said an European Commission statement. This is the final part of EU assistance to the Palestinian people in 2013 from the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), bringing the total amount contributed from this instrument this year to 300 million euro. "I am pleased to announce this assistance package to support Palestinian economic development on the day that the Palestinian Prime Minister Hamdallah is here in Brussels. The ultimate objective of the EU's financial assistance remains the establishment of a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace and security," said Ashton in a written statement. "Today we also discussed the difficult financial situation of the Palestinian Authority and the expectations for the meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) due to take place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York," she said. Ashton and Hamdallah also talked about the deepening of bilateral relations between the European Union and Palestine and Ashton confirmed the EU's support for the Palestinian state-building process and stressed the need for a strong and stable Palestinian government committed to reform and the rule of law. In the talks today, Ashton also expressed full support of the European Union for the ongoing Middle East peace talks. Hamdallah's visit was not announced beforehand and journalists in Brussels only came to know about it from the European Commission statement.