Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2011-09-26-Speech-1-071-000"
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"en.20110926.17.1-071-000"2
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"−
Madam President, I think that this is a highly important debate today on this report. Allow me to quote some of the facts: in April 2011, the European Union signed an agreement granting free access to Palestinian imports to the European market of agricultural products and fish and processed agricultural and fishery products. This agreement abolishes duty on imports of agricultural products, processed agricultural products, fish and Palestinian fishery products. We would point out that these provisions do not apply to fruit and vegetables, for which the system remains the same.
This agreement will run for a period of 10 years. In five years’ time it will be reviewed and may be renewed. It should be noted that, today, the Palestinian Authority is the Union’s smallest trade partner in the area. For the year 2009, according to Commission statistics, the rate of transactions was EUR 56.6 million, out of which only six million reflected imports from the Palestinian Authority. During the first trimester of 2010 a rise was observed of 26% in Union exports and 32% in Palestinian Authority exports.
It is clear to us that the future of the region depends on its economic development. Trade is a mechanism that contributes significantly to the reduction of poverty and to political stability. Data from the World Bank illustrate that most of the population is living in severe poverty. The illegal settlements repeatedly condemned by the European Union play a significant role in this.
The Union is the biggest provider of aid to the Palestinian Authority and one of Israel’s basic trading partners. Therefore, it has every interest in persuading both sides to sit at the negotiating table in order to create a viable Palestinian state which will co-exist in peace with Israel. This is also needed in light of the tense atmosphere in the entire Arab world and, in the run-up to the debate to be held in plenary tomorrow afternoon, I believe that it would be a good idea if the European Parliament could maintain a unified stance on the Palestinian question which, after all these years, deserves a fair solution.
To come back to the agreement, I believe that it is very important to the Palestinian side. It is an important message to the Palestinian Authority, especially at the present moment in time, and should be approved immediately and implemented immediately. This is important to peace and stability in the area as a whole."@en1
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