Brussels, 01/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission announced at the end of August that it was to provide additional financial support to the occupied Palestinian territory for state-building, water-management and sanitation, and also education and health services for refugees.
The €115 million package will also comprise financial assistance to businesses in the West Bank, helping to create jobs and generate growth in the area. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) will receive a €40 million share of the new funding. €22 million will go to the water sanitation and re-use programme in the West Bank. €11 million will be allocated to provide support to private sector and capacity-building for institutions related to the economy. €20 million will go to support the rule of law sector. €14 million will be used to support financial governance and state-building and €8 million will go to support for the development of community services in East Jerusalem.
Announcing the adoption of the package, EU Neighbourhood Policy Commissioner Štefan Füle said: “This support shows clearly the EU's standing commitment to the two-state solution, by supporting those institutions which will help to form the Palestinian state, as well as ongoing help to UNWRA's work in providing essential assistance in different areas including education, health and social services to the refugee population”.
This package brings EU aid to the occupied Palestinian territory to a total of €300 million, in addition to the €145 million already committed for Direct Financial Support and an initial €40 million contribution to UNRWA's General Fund. (O.L./transl.rt)