Steinmeier to present EU plan for ME to Israeli, Palestinian leaders

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier met with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salaam Fayad on Wednesday to present a EU plan for boosting US-led Mideast peace efforts. Under the plan devised by Steinmeier, the EU would try to strengthen small and mid-sized Palestinian businesses, West Bank universities, the police and other institutions. During his two day trip to Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Steinmeier also plans to meet with PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, as well as his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts, Tzipi Livni and Riad Malki.