European Commission 17 July 2003
Brussels - Following the recent positive developments in the Palestinian Territories and the withdrawal of IDF forces from parts of the Gaza Strip and Bethlehem, the European Commission is urgently delivering a €100 million package of financial assistance to support the implementation of the Road Map for Peace.
A €30 million emergency programme to rebuild essential services will have an immediate effect on the daily lives of the Palestinian population. €40 million from the new Reform Support Instrument1 will boost the economy by paying Palestinian Authority arrears to Small and Medium sized Enterprises.
A total of €30 million in loans for SMEs will help relaunch this sector and create employment. Total assistance from the European Community budget for supporting the reform process and providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinians stands at €570 million for 2002-2003.
The Commissioner for External Relations, Chris Patten said: “I welcome the measures taken by Israel and the Palestinian Authority to begin implementation of the Road Map. This delicate process now needs to be fully supported by the international community.
Regeneration of the Palestinian economy and restoration of basic public services will help build confidence and commitment to the peace process. Taking the contributions of the Commission and the Member States together, the European Union is the biggest donor of assistance to the Palestinian Territories, and will continue playing its full part in stabilizing the region and preparing for a two state solution”.
During the period of the Intifada basic public services in West Bank and Gaza have deteriorated badly, including upkeep of roads, sewers, electricity supplies and rubbish disposal. The European Commission is launching a €30 million emergency programme to help Palestinian municipalities tackle the problems. The programme will rapidly provide badly needed support to the worst affected areas - starting with Northern Gaza and Bethlehem. Work has already started in the first projects to get underway:
In addition to improving living conditions, these projects will create work and help provide an environment in which the economy can recover.
Restrictions on movement, closures and other restrictions on the Palestinian population during the Intifada have had a severe effect on the Palestinian economy. 50% of the population are unemployed, and 60% are living below the poverty level of $2 a day. The European Commission is acting swiftly to address this situation:
The Commission is doubling support available in loans to the private sector bringing the total available for its newly created emergency loan fund for Palestinian SMEs to €30 million. The fund is designed to ensure that SMEs weather the current crisis and provide the basis for economic development, which has to go hand in hand with the current political developments.
All of the actions above are in addition to the Commission’s long-standing support for PA reforms in the field of public finances, rule of law, and elections, as well as support to UNRWA and humanitarian support. UNRWA provides education, health and relief and social services to Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza and the West Bank. The European Commission has contributed over €200 million to UNWRAs activities since 2000. Humanitarian support is channelled via the European Commissions Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO). The most recent allocation of humanitarian assistance for €10 million was made last week to support victims of the crisis in the Palestinian territories and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. With this latest funding total humanitarian aid to the victims of the ongoing crisis has reached €107 million since the beginning of the second Intifada.
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