EU Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner at press conference following Quartet meeting

Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner's speaking points for the press conference following Quartet meeting in New York.

• The disengagement from Gaza is a major achievement. Both Israelis and Palestinians deserve our praise for the way the withdrawal was handled.
  
  
• But this success is fragile. We must not let the gains from this historic move slip away. We must ensure that it leads on to further steps towards implementation of the Road map.
  
  
• More than any other factor, freedom of movement for Palestinians in and out of Gaza and the West Bank is essential. Without this we will not be able to build on what has been achieved.
  
  
• Without mobility there can be no regeneration of the Palestinian economy.
  
  
• That is why I have decided that the European Commission should concentrate much of its assistance on projects that will facilitate movement not only between Gaza and the West Bank, but also open up travel to the wider world.
  
  
• But all this must be matched by efforts from the Palestinians themselves to improve control of their borders. Improvements in living conditions for the Palestinians must be matched by enhanced security for the Israelis. The EU is ready to make a contribution to both, by providing a third country presence on the border at Rafah.
  
  
• The other crucial element I want to mention is the need to strengthen and legitimize the Palestinian Authority. We cannot make progress as long as the authority of the PA is challenged by rival power bases.
  
  
• The coming elections are essential in this regard, and all of us must play our part in ensuring that the administration that is elected next January becomes the single seat of power in the territories.
  
  
• Wide participation by all those ready to seek their goals through votes rather than violence, is the best recipe for a government whose authority is accepted by the whole Palestinian population.

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• Quartet Statement, New York  (20/9/2005)
• EU Commission to support Palestinians with €280 million in 2005  (19/9/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement on Israeli disengagement from Gaza and parts of northern West Bank (25/8/2005)