WRITTEN QUESTION E-3652/00

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission

(23 November 2000)

Subject: EU funding of the Palestinian media

Part of the funding that the EU grants to the Palestinian Authority is intended to finance the Palestinian media. These funds are intended to contribute to the creation of an open and plural information system

and hence to the establishment of a democratic Palestinian society. However, throughout the latest crisis in the peace process several Palestinian media organisations have issued calls, some designed to stir up hatred, to fight Jewish people in the streets. They have thus played a crucial role in the escalation of the murderous clashes of the past few weeks.

Moreover, further EU financing is geared towards supporting the teaching and education sectors. According to the results of a survey conducted by the Centre for monitoring the impact of peace, however, the texts used in Palestinian schools contain a huge number of anti-Semitic references. Does the Commission consider it acceptable that EU funding is being used to foster feelings of hatred towards the Israeli people? What measures has the Commission taken or prepared and what mechanisms does it plan to introduce to prevent the EU funding granted to the Palestinian Authority from being misused in order to instigate violence and hatred towards the Jewish people, foment anti-Semitism and, ultimately, undermine the peace process in the Middle East?

Joint answer to Written Questions P-3612/00, P-3643/00 and E-3652/00 given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2000)

The Commission rejects any attempt to use the educational system as a vehicle to promote intolerance and to hinder the efforts achieved so far by the different parties committed with peace in the Middle East. It this particularly regrettable that school children may be exposed to intolerance and mutual incomprehension in any of the parties involved in the conflict.

None of the projects financed by the Commission in support of the Palestinian Authority have supported the production or distribution of school textbooks. Furthermore, no request has ever been made by the Palestinian Authority to finance curricula and textbooks. Assistance to the educational system has focused mainly on infrastructures, equipment for schools and school libraries and direct assistance for current school expenses (salaries, dining rooms, etc.). As regards projects financed bilaterally by Member States, the Commission has no right of monitoring or interference, and therefore the relevant Member States may have to be addressed individually.

The Commission has always focused its assistance on promoting a culture of peace, tolerance and human rights in the Middle East. In this regard, Article 2 of the Community-Palestinian interim association agreement clearly states that mutual co-operation between the parties has to be based on the respect of democratic principles and fundamental human rights as set out in the universal declaration on human rights, which guides their internal and international policy mldr. In this context, the Commission has financed in recent years several projects aiming at encouraging and fostering dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian youth such as encounters to promote cross-cultural dialogue and joint youth leadership training.