PR/04/2014
Jerusalem
06 MAY 2014
The EU, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg and The Netherlands
make a €16.4 million contribution to the
Palestinian Authority's payment of April salaries and pensions
Today the European Union has contributed approximately €16.4 million to the payment of the April salaries and pensions of approximately 70,000 Palestinian civil servants and pensioners of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. This contribution, made through the PEGASEIll mechanism, is funded by the European Union (€7.05 million) and the governments of Denmark (DKK 40 million or c.€5.36 million), Ireland (€1.0 million), Italy (€1.0 million), Luxembourg (€1.0 million) and The Netherlands (c.€0.98 million earmarked specifically for salaries in the Justice sector).
"The EU has consistently sought both to help ensure the well-being of the Palestinian population and —in the context of a commitment to a two-state solution — engage in Palestinian institution-building. Over many years the EU has proven to be Palestinian people's most reliable partner. The predictability of our financial support has always been guaranteed despite the very unpredictable political climate", said the EU Representative Mr. John Gatt-Rutter. "Following the recent political developments in the peace process, I want to reiterate the EU's support for intra-Palestinian reconciliation behind President Abbas on clear and certain terms but also our call to remain focused on negotiations and on the unprecedented benefits which peace can bring. Negotiations are the best way forward. The extensive efforts deployed in recent months must not go to waste", added the EU Representative.
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 (20082010) and the subsequent PA Palestinian National Plan (2011-2013). 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 €1.59 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.
lllMOcanisme Palestino-Europaen de Gestion de lAide Socio-Economique (PEGASE)
Contacts:
The Office of the European Union Representative:
Antonia Zafeiri (02 5415 859, 0548 024 915) & Shadi Othman (02 5415 867, 0599 673 958)
Download Document Files: https://unispal.un.org/pdfs/PR042014a.pdf
Document Type: Arabic text, Press Release
Document Sources: European Union (EU), PEGASE
Country: Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands
Subject: Assistance, Governance, International presence, Population
Publication Date: 06/05/2014