EU approves first package of €100 million in support of the Palestinian people

2010-12-23 15:20:01 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- The European Commission on Wednesday decided to provide an initial financial package worth €100 million ($131 million) to the Occupied Palestinian Territory under the 2011 budget, the European Union (EU) said.

With Wednesday's decision, the EU fulfills by far the pledges made at the Paris Donors' Conference in December 2007, which will help the Palestinian Authority (PA) to continue providing essential public services across the occupied Palestinian territory.

Of the package, €60 million ($78.6 million) will be channeled through the EU's assistance mechanism for the Occupied Palestinian Territory (PEGASE) which was launched in February 2008. These funds will help the PA to cover wages and pensions for essential civilian workers such as medical and teaching staff.

"This decision is a sign of the strong political and financial commitment of the European Union to the Palestinian Authority and to Prime Minister Fayyad's leadership in building a democratic and viable Palestinian state," EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton stated. "Palestinian statehood is critical for any peaceful, workable and lasting solution to the conflict."

So far the Commission has already provided €696 million ($911.8 million) in direct financial support to the Palestinian Authority through this mechanism, with EU Member States contributing a further €265 million ($347.2 million).

The remaining €40 million ($52.4 million) will be allocated to the core budget of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). UNWRA provides basic health, education and social safety net services for a refugee population of 4.7 million people since 1949. The EU and its Member States are the biggest donors to UNRWA.

"By today's decision the Commission wants to give a signal to the Palestinian people that they can count on our continued support in 2011 as in the past," said Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood policy Å tefan Füle. "Our support will be channeled through PEGASE. The Union trusts that Member States and other donors will continue supporting the Palestinian people through this mechanism."

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-12-23

So, let's see now; 30% to corrupt local officials, 50% as an indirect subsidy to European businesses that will provide the goods and services attached to the aid, and perhaps 20% may actually get to the people in need.