EU Announces €1.6 Billion Aid Package for Palestinian Authority and Recovery Efforts
The European Union (EU) has pledged an additional €1.6 billion ($1.8 billion) in financial aid to support the recovery of Palestine and the Palestinian Authority (PA), EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced on Monday.
“We are increasing our support for the Palestinian people. This €1.6 billion commitment through 2027 will assist in stabilizing the West Bank and Gaza,” Kallas wrote on X.
The funding will focus on enhancing infrastructure, providing humanitarian aid, and supporting refugees. Kallas emphasized that the EU has been a long-term partner to the PA.
The Palestinian Authority governs the occupied West Bank, and some Western officials have suggested it should also take control of Gaza following the ongoing Israeli conflict, which has resulted in nearly 51,000 casualties since October 2023.
According to the EU, the funding will aid in the recovery and stabilization of the West Bank and Gaza, as well as support for Palestine’s private sector.
The EU will also introduce a “Palestine Donor Platform” to assist the PA in implementing reforms.
European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica, explained that the initiative is aimed at helping the Palestinian people create a sustainable future.
“A reformed Palestinian Authority must play a central role in the post-conflict governance of Gaza,” she said.
The EU reiterated its “unwavering” support for the Palestinian people and its commitment to achieving a lasting peace through a two-state solution.
On the sidelines of the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, Suica also noted that the EU would closely monitor the PA’s reform efforts and expressed regret over the collapse of the ceasefire in Gaza.
The EU’s first “high-level political dialogue” with Palestinian leaders, including Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, is scheduled to take place in Luxembourg on Monday.
