By NNN-WAFA,
Ramallah : The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and the European Commission held here their first meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Good Governance and the Rule of Law, within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy.
In a press release Tuesday, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the subcommittee is the forum within which the PNA and the EU come together to review progress on the objectives and actions that both sides have agreed are priorities for these three key areas. Those objectives and actions are spelled out in the EU-PNA Joint Action Plan which was first agreed upon in 2005 and last reviewed in April 2008.
Chaired by Ambassador Ahmad Soboh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, 40 participants from PNA ministries, the European Commission and EU member states reviewed progress and agree on steps for further action. The agenda covered a wide range of topics including human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory including East Jerusalem, freedom of association and freedom of the press, detention condition, the death penalty, women and children’s rights; the PNA’s legislative plans, electoral laws and public sector reform; the rule of law and the PNA’s Justice Sector strategy.
Presentations were made by a number of PNA ministries, including the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Detainees and Ex-Detainees.
The subcommittee on human rights, good governance and the rule of law is the first of four subcommittees to be set up between the EU and the PNA. The three other subcommittees, which will convene in early 2009, will cover three areas — economic and financial matters, trade, customs issues; social affairs; and energy, environment, transport, science and technology, according to the press release.
EU-PNA cooperation within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) was formally re-launched earlier this year.
Developed in 2003-2004 with the aim of drawing the enlarged EU and its neighbours closer together, the ENP is about taking concrete action to support reforms, enhance prosperity and to improve the daily lives of people within Europe’s immediate neighbourhood.