Implementation of Instrument for Stability (IfS) Programmes in the

occupied Palestinian territory

Short description of the (sub-)project(s): This programme for €7.5 million finances several actions contributing to Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations. The programme supports international mediation by providing operational and logistical support to the Office of the Quartet Representative Tony Blair, and his staff based in Jerusalem (€2.5 million). Further activities to be funded under the programme include building operational capacity of the Palestinian Civil Police in line with the Road Map, notably through equipment provision, in close co-ordination with the European Security and Defence Policy mission EU Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories, EUPOL COPPS (€5 million). The programme was adopted in December 2007 in line with, and as an immediate response to, the undertakings agreed between Israelis and Palestinians at Annapolis on 27 November 2007, and the EU action strategy for Peace in the Middle East endorsed by the GAERC on 19 November 2007.

Objectives: The overall objective of the Programme is to enable the Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations, re-launched in Annapolis on 27 November 2007, to be successful, through providing effective support to international mediation and Palestinian security performance in line with the Roadmap. As a result, effective EU support to the peace negotiations enabling their eventual success, should focus inter alia on: (i) Facilitating hands-on international mediation through providing operational and logistic support to the Office of the Quartet Representative and his staff based in Jerusalem, so as to enable the effective and quick implementation of the Quartet objectives; and (ii) Short to medium term capacity-building of the Palestinian Civil Police to improve operational performance, including equipment, thereby providing the Police with the necessary instruments to be active, visible and efficient vis-à-vis the public, and to restore law and order in the West Bank – a Palestinian as much as an Israeli interest.

Activities: As for the 1st component, the €2.5 million support to the office of the Quartet Representative, the Commission covers roughly 1/3 of the overall operational cost of €8 million for the first 12-18 months. The remainder is being and will be provided by the UN and other donors, including the US, UK and Norway. As Representative, Mr. Blair aims to sustain and intensify international engagement through the Quartet support mechanism, within the broader framework of the Quartet's efforts to promote an end to the conflict in conformity with the Roadmap. Significant effort and time is being spent in the region, working with the parties and other partners, to help create viable and lasting government institutions representing all Palestinians, a robust economy, and a climate of law and order for the Palestinian people. Concerning the 2nd component, EUPOL COPPS identified, together with the Palestinian Civil Police, four areas requiring urgent material support: vehicles, uniforms, public order equipment, and IT and communication equipment. The concrete support components comprise (i) vehicles, for which a detailed needs assessment exists, indicating 79 policing vehicles of three different types and 36 public order vans (10 seats); (ii) civilian Public Order Equipment; (iii) Communications System Development - a radio tower (smart net site) as part of a communication system relying on three such towers; and (iv) appropriate uniforms and footwear for the 7-8,000 policemen in the West Bank. This will be further facilitated by implementing the equipment assistance through UNOPS (UN Office for Project Services), the agency also selected to implement Member States contributions to the PCP.

Implementation status: The Office of the Quartet Representative (OQR) achieved, inter alia, the following: Entry permits into Israel: 5000 work permits have been approved. However, only 2000 have been distributed to Palestinian workers. The OQR and QR continue to discuss the application of levies on Palestinian construction workers with the GoI and will continue to press for increasing available work permits without an additional levy, and to increase the number of overnight stays as an important means for economic growth and employment. Gaza cash: The QR’s intervention led the GoI to permit the entry of 68 million NIS to Gaza in August 2008, and a further NIS 100 in December 2008. The OQR subsequently produced and shared with all interested parties an analysis, conducted jointly with the World Bank and IMF, on the necessity of sufficient cash supply for banks in Gaza. OQR proposed to GoI a system of monthly transfers of NIS 100 million to Gaza. While there has been some success in allowing enough cash in individual instances, a systematic mechanism for monthly facilitation has not yet been agreed. Checkpoints: In the May 13 package the OQR identified 12 key strategic obstacles that should be removed or changed to improve the flow of trade, goods, services and people across the West Bank. The OQR continuously monitors the developments on the ground through regular field trips and close consultation with the UN and continues to push for the full implementation of the May 13 Package. Security: There is broad consensus today on the increasing willingness by the IDF to facilitate the efforts of the PASF in the West Bank, witnessed also by IDF permits for the twenty new police stations. The QR and OQR contributed to the success of the Berlin Conference in support of Palestinian Civil Security and Rule of Law last June. The international community pledged more than USD 300 million for the reform of the Palestinian security apparatuses according to the comprehensive plans presented at the Conference. Regarding the 2nd programme component for support to the PCP the following has been achieved: The site for the radio tower (near Tulkarem in the West Bank), has been prepared for construction. Construction of the tower is slightly delayed due to a delay in customs clearance. The equipment necessary for the tower has duly arrived in Israel but is currently waiting for that clearance. The vehicles are being delivered on schedule. 43 vehicles are scheduled to arrive in Ramallah in January and are currently being fitted out with the necessary equipment for them to function as police vehicles. The remainder of the vehicles is currently moored in Turkey awaiting customs clearance. The decentralisation of the PCP, the opening of further rural police stations and the construction of further rural police station intensified the need for means of transport, the PCP asked to substitute 4000 uniforms for vehicles. The vehicles have been well specified and fall within the existing fleet policy, the administrative change of the budget is being finalized and the vehicles will be delivered well ahead of the end date of the project.

Specific developments with regard to linkages to other EC / EU actions: On the 1st component, the OQR’s team consists of full or half time seconded staff (Dutch, French, German, Norwegian, Russian and US Government, DfID, EC, UN, World Bank). All advisors bring to the office the added value of their respective institutions and build alliances with other partners in the international community. In addition, the OQR meets with the EUSR and briefs the Local Development Forum on its activities, as well as the EU Heads of Mission, Strategy Groups where appropriate, NGOs and local Quartet members. The OQR has integrated itself into the aid coordination structure in the oPt. As for the 2nd component, the ESDP mission present in Ramallah, EUPOL COPPS, is part of the project steering. They form the link between the contractor (UNOPS) and the PCP. EUPOL COPPS helped greatly in determining the priorities and linking in with other donors (on the communications network) and increased the effectiveness of the action by, for instance, demanding that the PCP elaborate a fleet policy before deciding on what vehicles to buy. In October 2008, the Commission signed an agreement to contribute from the ENPI to the construction of the Police Training Centre (PTC) in Jericho. Training is the main priority set by the Chief of the PCP and as a next step, after purchasing the basic equipment needed to operate, is essential in assuring the effectiveness of the equipment. The Commission is also contributing, with ENPI funds, to the reconstruction of the muqata'a in Nablus. As a regional headquarters for security services, the muqata'a contains a police building. This will enable further decentralisation of the PCP and a more effective management of regional security, again increasing the effectiveness of the equipment delivered in the framework of the action. With the IfS action and the above mentioned projects, the Commission is contributing to the achievement of the priorities for the rule of law sector set in the Berlin Conference in June 2008. The Community is furthermore active in the donor coordination structure on all levels and, in this case, more specifically in the Security Sector Working Group. Through this involvement the Community contributes further to coordination of European and other donors.