Patten takes on ‘sniping’ Tories over Middle East

Date: 28/11/02

By David Cronin

CHRIS Patten, the EU's external relations commissioner, has denounced MEPs from his own party for 'sniping' at EU officials dealing with the Middle East.

His remarks were made during heated exchanges with David Sumberg and Charles Tannock at the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee on Tuesday (26 November). Both belong to the Conservative Party, which Patten chaired in 1990-92.

During the meeting, Sumberg challenged Patten to explain why he was opposed to MEPs launching a probe into allegations that EU aid to the Palestinian Authority is being siphoned off to terrorists.

The commissioner replied he would not block such an inquiry if a majority of MEPs wanted it but 'one of the consequences would be to make it difficult to continue writing cheques for the Palestinian Authority'.

He told Sumberg: 'David, you're a grown-up politician. You know exactly what you're doing. If you've got some evidence, for Heaven's sake put it on the table.'

Patten said his officials had had ten separate meetings with MEPs since the beginning of November on aid to the Palestinians. Earlier this month, they provided the budget committee with a dossier explaining how the money is being spent.

The Commission has investigated Israeli claims that EU funds are being diverted to terrorists but found no evidence to support the accusations.

Patten also pointed out that the EU's aid for the Palestinian Authority - which includes money for health, education and political institutions - is vital to prevent its collapse.

The Union has tried to compensate for the shortfall caused by Israel's December 2000 decision to stop transferring tax and customs revenues to the Palestinians.

When Tannock cited a recent letter by Thomas Dawson, director of the International Monetary Fund, stating that the IMF does not 'monitor foreign assistance' to the Palestinians, Patten said he did not think the MEPs would accept any assurances about the aid's use.

'I think if the Holy Ghost came to my assistance, the honourable gentleman would still find it difficult to believe that I'm telling the truth,' he added. Patten also asked whether critics of EU support for the Palestinians want to prevent the delivery of vital supplies. He reminded deputies that British aid worker Ian Hook died last week when Israeli forces stormed the Jenin refugee camp. 'I find the constant sniping at officials, the Palestinian Authority and people on the ground - one of whom was killed last week - difficult to stomach,' he added.

Patten also took Tannock to task for berating Portugal over its failure to endorse a proposal for an EU-wide travel ban on Belarussian dictator Alexander Lukashenko.

Lisbon was alone among the EU-15 in opposing the move because it feared Belarus could retaliate by preventing an Oporto meeting of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe from going ahead on 7-8 December.

Patten said it was not for Tannock to criticise Portugal for using its veto, as the MEP belongs to the wing of the Conservatives which opposes moves to abolish national vetoes in the EU's Council of Ministers. On Afghanistan, Patten revealed his staff have prepared a new €10 million blueprint for reducing opium production in the war-shattered country.

The overall EU budget for Afghanistan next year will be more than €200 million, he said. About 85% of all heroin traded in Europe is believed to originate in the Asian state.

Chris Patten, the EU's External Relations Commissioner, has denounced MEPs from his own party for 'sniping' at EU officials dealing with the Middle East.