EU RELEASES €212M of 2015 FINANCIAL AID FUND TO PA

Ramallah, 29 Rabi’ul Akhir 1436/19 February 2015 (MINA) – The European Union released €212 million as part of its first tranche of 2015 financial support to the Palestinian Authority and to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

A press release issued by EU representative office said, “This new funding will help provide vital basic services such as education, healthcare and social services to the Palestinian people,” WAFA News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Wednesday.

Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, commented, ‘The EU remains committed to the two-state solution and will therefore continue to support the Palestinian Authority in its state-building efforts and in delivering basic social services.”

He added, “Our support remains the quickest and most effective way to deliver funding to the Palestinians, including those living in Gaza, in a moment of severe difficulties.’

Through this financial package, EU also contributes to alleviating the debts of the Palestinian Authority towards the East Jerusalem hospitals and promotes the reform of the health referral system.

It said this first tranche of €212 million consists of two components; €130 million of direct financial support to PA through PEGASE mechanism, in addition to  €82 million financial support to UNRWA; enabling refugee families and their children to attend school, to receive medical attention and to survive economically.

Most of EU’s assistance to PA is channeled through PEGASE, the financial mechanism launched in 2008 to support the PA Reform and Development Plan (2008-2010) and the subsequent PA Palestinian National Plan (2011-2013).(T/P008/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)