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Commission agrees extra €71 million for Palestinians

14-07-2010

The European Commission on Wednesday agreed an additional financial package worth €71 million for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, topping up the €224 million already allocated by the EU in the 2010 European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), as well as a reinforcement of humanitarian aid for Palestinian refugees.
 
The extra funds were first announced by European Commission President José Manuel Barroso on Tuesday, after a meeting in Brussels with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
 
Ahead of her trip to the region on Sunday, Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said: "Further to our direct financial support through payment of PA civil servants’ salaries and social benefits, this package reinforces our support to the institution-building efforts made by the Palestinian Authority towards establishing a future State of Palestine."
 
European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle added: "The Palestinian people can count on our continued support. The money will be used to support the social and economic development priorities of the Palestinian Authority. Significant support will be given to improving the security and rule of law, which are key in building the Palestinian statehood."
 
The funds from today's decision will go towards helping the PA meet its objectives for social and economic development and institution-building under the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan. Priorities include security and the rule of law, infrastructure, with special attention being paid to water, support for private sector development and support for Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem.
 
So far the Commission has already provided €650 million in support to the Palestinian Authority through the PEGASE mechanism. Since 2000, the European Commission has provided close to €275 million in humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees in the Middle East. (ENPI Info Centre)
 
Press release
 
ENPI Info Centre – Barroso underlines assistance for Palestinian state-building
 
ENPI Info Centre – Fayyad at the EP: EU can be a player, not just a payer
 
ENPI Info Centre press pack – The EU and Occupied Palestinian Territory
 
The EU and the Middle East Peace Process

 


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