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A Road Map Paid for in Euros
(Financial Times-UK) - Christopher Patten, European Commissioner for External Relations Between November 2000 and December 2002 the EU granted nearly €250m ($280m) to keep the PA alive and to sustain the most basic of public services. Thanks to conditions that the EU imposed, the PA now has a credible and transparent internal accounting system, and recruitment of staff has ceased to be a covert form of social security. The EU has launched a €30m emergency program to help Palestinian municipalities carry out urgent repairs - starting with northern Gaza and Bethlehem. In addition, we have made a first payment of €40m to the Ministry of Finance to help pay off arrears to the private sector. A further payment of €40m this year is conditional on continuing financial management reform. In addition, the European Commission is making available €30m for a new loan fund for small Palestinian businesses. I do not pretend that it is possible to buy stability in the Palestinian territories. But we cannot expect peace to take root unless ordinary people see the benefits of change.