EU and the Netherlands contribute €15 million to the PA’s payment of July salaries and pensions – EU press release

The EU and the Netherlands contribute €15 million to the PA's payment of July salaries and pensions

03 Aug 2016

The European Union is making today a contribution of €15.0 million to the payment of July salaries and pensions of over 65,000 Palestinian civil servants and pensioners in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. This contribution, which is channelled through the PEGASE[1] mechanism, is being funded by the European Union (€14.0 million) and the Government of the Netherlands (€1.0 million earmarked specifically for PA salaries in the justice sector).

"The European Union is aware of the Palestinian Authority's complex challenges and will continue providing unwavering support to the Palestinian people. In this context, we remain one of the most reliable and committed donors in order to secure the PA’s fiscal sustainability and build the institutions of a future Palestinian State," said the Deputy EU Representative Mr. David Geer. "I would like to thank again the Netherlands for its generous contribution through the EU's PEGASE mechanism. This demonstrates once again the fruitful cooperation between the EU and its Member States in Palestine", he added.

Background

Most of the European Union's assistance to the Palestinian Authority is channelled through PEGASE, the financial mechanism launched in 2008 to support the PA Reform and Development Plan (2008-2010) and subsequent Palestinian national plans. As well as helping to meet a substantial proportion of its running costs, European funds support major reform and development programmes in key ministries, to help prepare the PA for statehood. Since February 2008, almost €2.1 billion have been disbursed through the PEGASE Direct Financial Support programmes. In addition, the EU has provided assistance to the Palestinian people through UNRWA and a wide range of cooperation projects.

[1] Mécanisme Palestino-Européen de Gestion de l'Aide Socio-Economique (PEGASE)

Contacts:
The Office of the European Union Representative:
Shadi Othman (02 5415 867, 0599 673 958)
Inas Abu Shirbi (02 5415 859, 0599 673 957)

http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/westbank/