15/04/2025 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 14 April, the Council of the European Union adopted a decision to increase by €600,000 the budget of the EU Border Assistance Mission at the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah), which was redeployed on 31 January but has had to cease operations since hostilities resumed on 18 March (see EUROPE 13571/41). Thus, the amount of €3,723,806 intended to cover expenditure for the period 1 July 2024 - 30 June 2025, by virtue of a decision of 25 June 2024, has now been increased to €4,323,806 “in order to cover the additional costs resulting from (the) redeployment”. During the first phase of the ceasefire, EUBAM Rafah enabled more than 4,000 people to leave Gaza for Egypt. On 14 April, the EU High Representative announced that EUBAM could, in future, “potentially facilitate the delivery of goods to Gaza and support the return of the Palestinian Authority” to the enclave. (CG)