EU to contribute to payment of salaries of Palestinian public service providers and pensioners – EU press release/Non-UN document

---

Jerusalem, 5 September 2007

Press Release

Continued close cooperation between the Palestinian Ministry of Finance and the European Union to pay public service providers and pensioners

The European Union contributes, through the social allowances of the Temporary International Mechanism (TIM), to this month’s payment to public service providers by the Palestinian government.

TIM social allowances of more than 21 million Euros will be added to the Ministry of Finance payments to allow recipients to receive a single transfer equivalent to the amount of their monthly salary or pension.

Since June 2006, 338 million Euros, of which more than 326 million Euros have been provided by the European Union, were channeled through the TIM in direct support to social allowances to Palestinians in need throughout the West Bank and Gaza.

The Temporary International Mechanism was established at the initiative of European Commissioner for External Affairs, Mrs Benita Ferrero-Waldner. The TIM ensures the continued delivery of financial support and essential services to the Palestinian population. One million Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank have benefited from TIM social allowances and public utilities.

More than 500 million Euros, including a total EU contribution of 485 million Euros, have been made available to all components of the Temporary International Mechanism in support of the Palestinian population in the West Bank and Gaza.

In July 2007, the EU resumed relations with institutions of the Palestinian Authority and the EU has started to provide direct financial and technical assistance to the Palestinian government.

For further information please contact Ian Hoskins at (972) 54 8053598.

End