The European Union pledged to boost assistance to the Palestinians on Wednesday and praised Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for keeping his word in restoring order since his election. "The president can be sure the EU will be behind the Palestinians in achieving their dream of a Palestinian state," EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told Abbas, making his first visit to Brussels since taking office in January. Solana said the 25-nation EU would support Palestinian parliamentary elections, provide fresh economic aid and help the Palestinian Authority to reform its security forces. European Parliament President Josep Borrell said that if the Israeli-Palestinian peace process made sufficient progress, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, a global conference of parliamentarians which he will chair from this month, could hold a special session in the Palestinian territories in November. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the EU would help observe Palestinian parliamentary elections in July and provide 250 million euros in aid this year.
