EU Foreign Affairs Chief to SadaNews: Taxpayer Money Behind Reform Demands

SadaNews: The Vice President of the European Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaia Kallas, confirmed to SadaNews that the demands of the EU for the Palestinian Authority to implement reforms are backed by European taxpayers' money.

This came during a press meeting Kallas held with a number of journalists, including SadaNews Editor-in-Chief Musab Jaber, at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Monday.

During the meeting in which SadaNews participated, the media organization posed two questions to the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaia Kallas. The first was about what the Palestinian Authority needs to do to convince the EU that it has completed the required reforms. The second focused on European demands related to modifying Palestinian curricula, which are imposed solely on Palestinians without including Israeli curricula, especially those adopted in settlements that promote hatred and animosity.

The wording of the first question posed by SadaNews was: "Officials in the Palestinian Authority claim that they have implemented the required reforms, yet the EU and its member states continue to demand more reforms daily. What should the Palestinian Authority do to convince the EU that it has fulfilled its obligations?"

Kallas responded to SadaNews: "The EU provides support and has demands. There are countries that wish to obtain EU membership, and they must meet the accession criteria. Member states or candidate countries have demands." She continued, "Especially since we are talking about the funds of European taxpayers, these matters are significant and must be taken into consideration."

She added, "The demands relate to the implementation of the rule of law, the development of legal processes, and the peaceful transfer of authority. The people must have a voice, and public services provided by the Palestinian Authority must be developed."

She further stated, "You will meet with members of the European Parliament, and they will clarify that there are legislations and laws that must be adhered to in order to provide support, and the Palestinian Authority must implement these laws."

When SadaNews insisted on clarifying what was specifically required, Kallas said, "I am not the responsible party who should clarify what reforms the Palestinian Authority needs to undertake." She added, "I went to Palestine and met with the Prime Minister, who says there are reforms we need to implement."

Regarding the second question, SadaNews said: "The EU demands modifications to the Palestinian curricula, so why is this not also applied to Israelis, especially in the settlements? There are religious schools teaching children how to shoot at Palestinians and instilling hatred against the Palestinian people. Does the EU, which also financially supports Israel, exert the same pressure on the Israeli government regarding curricula and their amendments as it does on the Palestinians?"

Kallas replied to SadaNews: "This problem is smaller than it is presented. We do not support Israelis with taxpayer money; rather, there are some projects from certain sources that are financially supported for Israelis."

She added, "We do not have the leverage to pressure Israelis as the Americans do."

Kallas continued, "We are in contact with Israelis regarding the curricula, and we tell Palestinians that there must be a prevailing right and coexistence between both parties, and this animosity must stop."