EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/450

(2004/C 88 E/0460)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3082/03

by David Bowe (PSE) to the Commission

(20 October 2003)

Subject: Alleged Israeli dumping of toxic waste in Palestine

Is the Commission aware that Israel is accused of dumping toxic waste on Palestinian settlements, a violation of the Oslo II Palestinian-Israeli agreement? Will it take action against Israel to prevent further violation of this agreement? If not, why not?

Joint answer

to Written Questions E-3080/03, e-3081/03 and E-3082/03

given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 2003)

Together with the Member States, the Commission accounts for almost half of all financial assistance to the Palestinians and is the single-most important donor. The objective of its assistance is to strengthen the institutions of a future Palestinian State whilst at the same time addressing the most urgent needs of the Palestinian population.

In close co-operation with other international donors, the Commission addresses the general problem of basic services in health, education, relief and social services as well as the more specific problem of insufficient water supply and treatment, and waste through a number of projects on the ground. By contributing about EUR 60 million/year to the regular budget of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) for example, the Commission supports UNRWA's work on municipal and regional utility issues which provides water, wastewater, and solid waste services to the refugee population.

In addition, through its EUR 30 million emergency support programme for Palestinian municipalities which is currently being implemented, the Commission helps rehabilitate basic public services in municipalities in the West Bank and Gaza. Projects implemented under this programme are for instance the replacement of water pipes in Bethlehem, and the rehabilitation of roads including the construction of a new sewage system in Gaza.

Moreover, the Commission considers water to be an important element in the Middle East Peace Process. It has supported the work of the EU's Special Representative on the water issue financially and politically and actively participates in a sub-working group of the Council on this issue. It has also launched a regional project, involving Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian governmental water institutions and authorities, to develop a real time monitoring system of water resources with the aim of improving capabilities for preventing and managing critical changes in drainage areas and river basins, the Regional Water Data Banks Project (RWDB).

The Commission is aware of reports alleging that Israel has released quantities of hazardous waste without treatment in the West Bank and Gaza. We are also conscious of the lack of infrastructure in the Palestinian Territories to process hazardous waste and to separate hazardous from non-hazardous waste. The Commission has been in contact with the United Nations Environment Programme on their Desk Study of January 2003 on the environment in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Desk Study addressed the question of alleged dumping, but did not reach any conclusions. It recommended to conduct a field study to collect evidence on this matter.