Mr. Hugh Lovatt:

I will give a brief answer and then turn over to my colleague, Mr. Konený. I will underscore that the EU and its member states are the largest provider of aid to the Palestinians. This aid does much important work but we need to recall that Palestine does not need to be dependent on aid. The reason it is dependent on aid is the ongoing restrictions on its access to natural resources and on its ability to export. All of these restrictions are to be seen against the backdrop of the occupation. If we want to move towards a more viable policy, we need to tackle the root causes rather than providing a technical, aid-focused bandage. I will turn to Mr. Konený for a fuller answer.