§ Mr. CaplinTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the use of funds donated to the Palestinian Authority by the European Union. [64594]
§ Mr. FoulkesThe European Union, including individual Member States, has made a major contribution to supporting the Middle East Peace Process by providing 54 per cent. ($1.7 billion) of total development assistance to the Palestinians since 1993. This includes over 650 mecu provided directly by the European Commission to the Palestine Authority. My Department maintains good links with EC officials in Brussels and the West Bank and Gaza, and participates in the Maghreb/Mashreq Working Group at which aid policy towards EC projects for the Palestine Authority is discussed. To enable Member States to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of EC aid we pressed for an evaluation of the EC's recently expired five-year programme of assistance for the Palestinians. We understand that this evaluation is soon to be finalised, and expect to receive the findings shortly.