Press Release
PR/16/2014
Jerusalem
10 NOVEMBER 2014
The EU, Ireland and The Netherlands contribute around €17.5 million to the PA's payment of October salaries and pensions
The European Union is making today a contribution of approximately €17.5 million to the payment of October salaries and pensions of around 69,000 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 (€15.5 million) and the Governments of Ireland (€1.0 million) and The Netherlands (c.€1.0 million earmarked specifically for PA salaries in the justice sector).
"With this latest monthly contribution to the salaries and pensions of the Palestinian Authority's civil servants, the European Union, Ireland and The Netherlands have demonstrated once more their continuing support for the Palestinian Authority in delivering services to the Palestinian people" said the EU Representative, Mr. John Gatt-Rutter. "The Palestinian Authority faces many challenges as the autumn and winter months approach, particularly in Gaza where the needs are great. I commend the efforts made so far by the Palestinian Authority to assume its responsibilities in Gaza and urge it to expand these further. The EU will continue to support the Palestinian People in line with the commitments made at the Cairo conference and in the Single Support Framework Agreement 2014-2015 that we signed with the Palestine a few weeks ago" he continued.
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, around €1.7 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)
Download Document Files: https://unispal.un.org/pdfs/PR162014a.pdf
Document Type: Arabic text, Press Release
Document Sources: European Union (EU)
Country: Ireland, Netherlands
Subject: Armed conflict, Assistance, Economic issues, Gaza Strip, Governance, International presence
Publication Date: 10/11/2014