Ramallah-BNEWS- Today, the European Commission has approved a new bilateral allocation to Palestine worth €224.8 million. This new assistance package will support the Palestinian Authority and crucial projects in the occupied Palestinian territory. This package complements previous contributions, such as €92 million to support UNRWA, bringing the total EU assistance to the Palestinians in 2021 to €317 million. This does not include a further €25 million in humanitarian funding announced in May.
This package includes €145.35 million to support the Palestinian Authority in the payments of the salaries and pensions of civil servants, the social allowances to vulnerable families, the referrals to the East Jerusalem Hospitals, and the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). In the framework on the EU’s Food and Resilience Facility in support of our Southern Neighbourhood partners, €10 million will be added to the allowances component, which will therefore amount to € 50 million in total. This additional support will aim to address the consequences of rising prices of food and commodities in Palestine, thus helping mitigate the impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine. As part of the €145.35 million package, €13 million is allocated for referrals to the East Jerusalem hospitals.
A specific programme of EUR 36 million for the period 2021-2023 will also aim to enhance the living conditions in East Jerusalem in order to respond to the continued deterioration of socio-political and economic trends.
With a view to fostering sustainable economic development in occupied Palestinian territory and reducing aide dependency, €30.5 million are allocated to private sector development. This support will target key Palestinian economic sectors that have the potential to stimulate inclusive economic growth and will enhance digitalisation, diversification of trade and innovation, thus boosting the economy. It will also contribute to the economic recovery efforts in Gaza, notably supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as reconstructing and developing damaged economic infrastructure.
Moreover, in this package the EU has earmarked €10 million for two major infrastructure projects in Gaza that are part of the EU’s flagship projects under the EU’s Economic and Investment plan for the Southern Neighbourhood: the gas for Gaza pipeline and the Gaza central desalination plant related works.
Finally and in line with EU commitment towards gender related issues, €3 million will promote gender responsive policies and laws in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Following his meeting with the Palestinian Prime Minister, the EU Representative, Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff said: "The European Union renews its financial commitment to the Palestinian people. This EU support will help the Palestinian Authority maintain crucial public services in the health and education sectors and protect the poorest families through its social protection scheme, in addition to incentivising further reform in key economic sectors. We also support Palestinians in Gaza and East Jerusalem through a variety of strategic interventions and projects. While these are tangible steps on the ground to improve the lives of Palestinian people, they will neither be sustainable nor sufficient in the absence of fundamental political changes: a democratically elected national political leadership is indispensable for establishing a representative and accountable government for the entire occupied Palestinian territory. This will not only facilitate the resumption of the peace process, it will ultimately pave the way for a contiguous, viable, sovereign and democratic Palestinian State and for peace and security for all."
The EU remains a steady supporter and one of the main donors of Palestinians. It foresees to provide up to €1.152 billion in financial support from 2021 to 2024. The ultimate objectives of EU financial support to the Palestinians are to establish accountable institutions for a future Palestinian State and supporting the emergence of a self-sustaining economy.
EU president announces resumption of delayed aid to Palestinian Authority
President of the European Union Ursula von der Leyen announced today in Ramallah the resumption of delayed EU aid to the Palestinian Authority.
Speaking at a press conference in Ramallah with Prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh, Leyen said that all EU funds will be dispersed rapidly after all difficulties that delayed the dispersion of the funds have been resolved.
She noted that for many years now the EU has been supporting Palestine and the Palestinian people. “As team Europe, we are the largest donor to Palestine, with around 600 million Euros per year.”
She announced that the EU funds for 2021 can be dispersed rapidly after all difficulties were resolved. “At the moment, we have mobilized 25 million Euros to improve the food security in Palestine,” she said, noting that this is a short-term and immediate help that is necessary.
She stressed the importance of discussing the mid-and long-term activities to improve food dependency, which she stressed has to decrease and to improve the own capacity to grow the necessary food.
She further stressed the importance to discuss the peace process, renewing the EU’s welcoming of all efforts towards peace, and affirming its commitment to a negotiated two-state solution that gives the Palestinian people perspective and achieves their aspiration of an independent, democratic, and viable Palestine existing side by side in peace with Israel.
She conveyed sincere regret for the death of the Palestinian journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh. “The EU strongly condemns the killing of the journalist and we call for a thorough independent investigation.”
For his part, Shtayyeh called on Europe to put its economic weight and relations with Israel toward stopping all measures that destroy the two-state solution, thanking Europe for resuming the unconditional funding.
The Prime Minister also called on Europe to put pressure on Israel to allow the holding of elections, including in Jerusalem.
