WRITTEN QUESTION E-1471/01 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Israeli taxes.
Date: 2001-05-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Israel, Palestine, Palestine question, aid policy, budgetary resources

C 364 E/122

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

(2001/C 364 E/134)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1471/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(18 May 2001)

Subject: Israeli taxes

The EU cannot remain indifferent to the statements made by Faysal Al Husseini, the Palestinian Authority(cid:146)s
Minister for Jerusalem Affairs, calling for a Holy War against Israel extending from Indonesia to Morocco,
not least because the debate on the situation in the Palestinian territories not only (cid:129) unfortunately (cid:129)
mentions violence, but also has social and economic implications.

Can the Commission therefore check every request for the reimbursement of taxes from Israel to the
Palestinian Authority due to be paid in accordance with the agreements signed and to re-establish
humanitarian aid only when the PA has undertaken to suspend terrorist acts and Israel has granted access
for humanitarian aid workers and essential merchandise, making this dependent on an end to the
Palestinian terrorist acts?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2001)

The present system of transfers of clearance revenue (VAT and custom duties receipts) from the Israel State
to the Palestinian Authority (PA) is provided for in Article VI of the 1994 Israeli-Palestinian Protocol on
Economic Relations (the Paris Protocol). This system was, at the time, considered by the two parties as one
of the major successes of co-operation between Palestinians and Israelis, making it possible to ensure or
stabilise about 60 % of the budgetary income of the PA. The monitoring of these transfers is currently
being undertaken by the International Monetary Fund.

Since the beginning of the current crisis in the Middle East, the Commission has provided a total of € 24,5
million in emergency aid, € 14,5 million alone to United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees (UNRWA) in response to its emergency appeal. Furthermore, the Commission has disbursed
€ 57,5 million from two reimbursable facilities established for the case of Israel not transferring tax
receipts and customs revenues due to the Palestinian. Finally, a package of € 60 million in budgetary aid to
the Palestinian Authority will be disbursed in monthly payments during the next six months.

Since the signature of the Oslo Agreement, the Union has (cid:129) together with other international donors (cid:129)
consistently worked to support the creation and consolidation of a functioning administration for the West
Bank and Gaza; in the belief that this is in the interest of the population and of greater stability in the
the
region The assistance provided under the current crisis has been particularly crucial
humanitarian needs of the Palestinian population and, by allowing the Palestinian Authority(cid:146)s ability to pay
salaries and preserving the basic functioning of the Palestinian administration, to avoid the Palestinian
territories slipping further into turmoil and chaos.

to meet

(2001/C 364 E/135)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1481/01

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(18 May 2001)

Subject: The EU-South Africa Fisheries Agreement

Does the Commission have any predictions about the likelihood of a successful outcome to the ongoing
negotiations with South Africa on fisheries?

Are there any particular difficulties which are being encountered and is it the case that other agreements
are being jeopardised by the position of certain Member States?

Is there any analysis of what the benefits of such an agreement with the EU would be for South Africa at
the time?