For immediate release
Monday 20 October 2014
The European Union and Palestine hold policy dialogue meetings in Ramallah
The European Union (EU) and the Palestinian Authority officials are meeting in Ramallah today and on Wednesday as part of an annual policy dialogue, which guides the partnership between the EU and Palestine. The two days will be dedicated to the work of two separate sub-committees: on one Economic and Financial Matters; and one on Energy, Transport, Climate Change, Environment, and Water.
Officials from the EU and their counterparts at the relevant Palestinian Authority Ministries (including Ministries of Finance, National Economy, and Transportation), Palestinian Water Authority, Environment Quality Authority, and Palestinian Energy and National resources Authority are engaging in detailed exchanges on the latest developments in these important areas of cooperation between the EU and Palestine.
"These two Sub-Committees concern key areas of mutual cooperation. The Palestinian Authority has made impressive progress in both areas particularly as regards fiscal discipline, public finance management, water and energy. Nevertheless the environment in which it works remains very challenging. This is particularly the case now, as the Palestinian Authority seeks to extend the progress achieved in institution-building in the West Bank to Gaza which it should exercise full governmental responsibilities, said the EU Representative," Mr John Gatt-Rutter.
"The meetings of these two sub-committees come just after the joint EU-PA adoption of the new EU multi-annual programming document: the Single Support Framework 2014-2015. This document sets out three sectors of intervention namely: governance at local and national levels; support for the private sector and sustainable economic development and support for water and land development while it confirms the EU's continuing support for East Jerusalem and its Direct Financial Support for the Palestinian Authority through PEGASE. This document is the result of our continuous and constructive dialogue with the Palestinian Authority," added the EU Representative
In the Sub-Committee for Economic and Financial Matters, discussions will focus on the macroeconomic situation and outlook in Palestine and the EU, fiscal trends in Palestine, monetary and financial sector issues, economic linkages between Palestine and Israel and implications, progress in public finance management reforms, and the EU-PA financial cooperation.
The dialogue of the Sub-Committee on Energy, Transport, Climate Change, Environment, and Water focuses on new trends in these areas and the potential for deepening cooperation. At the core of discussions will be the latest developments of PA energy policy, recent developments and state of play of the Water Sector in Palestine, and the Palestinian transport sector status including regional transport cooperation.
For further details please contact:
The Office of the European Union Representative, West Bank and Gaza Strip, UNRWA Shadi Othman, Tel: +972 (0) 2 541 5867, Mob: +972 (0) 599 673 958 http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/westbank/
Download Document Files: https://unispal.un.org/pdfs/PR152014a.pdf
Document Type: Arabic text, Press Release
Document Sources: European Union (EU)
Subject: Assistance, Economic issues, Environmental issues, Governance, Jerusalem, Land, Water
Publication Date: 20/10/2014