WRITTEN QUESTION E-3081/03 by David Bowe (PSE) to the Commission. Sewage systems in Palestine.
Date: 2003-10-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Palestine, public health, wastewater, water treatment

C 88 E/450

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

(2004/C 88 E/0459)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3081/03

by David Bowe (PSE) to the Commission

(20 October 2003)

Subject: Sewage systems in Palestine

Only 37,5 % of Palestinian homes are connected to a sewage system. This creates a serious environmental
hazard.

Is the Commission aware of the effect that this has on the health of Palestinians? What action is it taking
to address this issue?

(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
the Commission supports
UNRWA’s work on municipal and regional utility issues which provides water, wastewater, and solid waste
services to the refugee population.

for example,

(UNRWA)

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).