Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Catherine Ashton during the signing ceremony of a financing agreement in Brussels
(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS - EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Palestinian Premier Salam Fayyad on Tuesday signed in the headquarters of the European diplomatic service, an accord with which the EU will grant 7 million euros in aid for the development of the so-called 'C area' representing roughly 60% of the West Bank. Fayyad is in Brussels to take part in a meeting of the ad hoc committee to coordinate assistance to the Palestinians.
The accord, said Ashton, aims to supportthe Palestinian presence and promote social and economic development in the C area, which is key to Palestine's economic sustainability.
Ashton also said she was impatient to work constructively with all partners to change the C area.
Relations between the EU and Palestinian National Authority are also being boosted. The EU Council has adopted a common action plan of neighbourhood policy. The plan provides for a shared engagement to deepen bilateral relations and boost the privileged partnership, Ashton said. She also said she had discussed with Fayyad how to better implement shared objectivesi n the plan, and in particular a full association accord between the EU and PNA. (ANSAmed).
