GAZA, February 27, 2006 (IPC + Agencies) - - News reports mentioned that the foreign ministers of the European Union members will meet on Monday at Brussels to discuss the possibility of continuing their financial support of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), following the victory of Hamas movement in the latest legislative elections.
According to the sources, the EU is expected to give €40 million to the PNA for usage in energy and sanitation services. They will also approve another €50 million that will be released by the World Bank for the salaries of the government employees.
The sources further mentioned that the EU will give these funds for the interim government, without referring to its stance towards the next government Hamas will form.
Meanwhile, European media agencies reported that France is exerting pressure on EU countries to transfer €23 million (approx. $40 million) immediately to the PNA as a strategy of "lending a hand to Hamas".
Earlier, the US newspaper New York Times revealed that the EU is working on a suggestion to transfer the EU funding directly to President Mahmoud Abbas instead of Hamas government, pointing out that the idea was first introduced by the EU's Higher Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Javier Solana.
The ambassador of the EU to Israel explained that Hamas must fulfill three conditions to continue receiving financial aid from the Union - commitment to renouncing violence, recognizing Israel and accepting the previous agreements and understandings, including the Road Map plan.
The EU transfers an amount of $600 million annually to the PNA as part of its financial aid program.
