LOC15:04
12:04 GMT
BRUSSELS, Dec 22 (KUNA) -- The European Commission today announced its
decision to provide an initial financial package worth 100 million euro for
the Occupied Palestinian Territory under the 2011 budget.
"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.
Palestinian statehood is critical for any peaceful, workable and lasting
solution to the conflict," said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in
press statements.
Today's decision fulfils the EU pledges made at the Paris Donors'
Conference in December 2007, to help the Palestinian Authority to continue
providing essential public services across all the occupied Palestinian
territory, noted an EC statement.
Of today's announced package, 60 million euro will cover wages and
pensions for essential civilian workers ,particularly medical and teaching
staff. The remaining 40 million euro will be allocated to the core budget of
UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
On his part , EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood policy
Stefan Fule said, "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." (end)
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