The European Commission’s Commissioner for the Mediterranean signaled the implementation of a package providing 1.6 billion euros to the Palestinian Authority within three years. As Israel continues its attacks on the Gaza Strip, breaking the ceasefire, and pressuring other Palestinian territories under occupation, the European Union (EU) announced an increase in financial support to the Palestinian Authority based in the city of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, under President Mahmoud Abbas. Dubravka Suica, the European Commission’s Commissioner for the Mediterranean, revealed in an interview with Reuters that the EU will enhance its financial support to the Palestinian Authority with a three-year package worth 1.6 billion euros. Suica stated that this financial assistance would go hand in hand with reforms within the Palestinian Authority.

“THEY CANNOT BE A PARTNER WITHOUT REFORM” Suica emphasized the importance of reforms within the Palestinian Authority following reminders of accusations of “corruption and bad governance.” She continued, “We want them to reform because if they do not, they will not be strong and reliable enough to be a partner not just for us but for Israel as well.” Suica’s statement came ahead of the first “high-level political dialogue” to be held today in Luxembourg between EU foreign ministers and senior Palestinian officials, including Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa.

According to Reuters, the EU stands as the institution providing the most significant financial support to Palestinians. EU officials hope that, following the cessation of Israel’s attacks on Gaza, the Palestinian Authority will assume responsibility in the region. However, the Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has opposed the transfer of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority and the two-state solution supported by the EU.

620 MILLION EUROS FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND REFORM Suica also provided details about the financial support to be granted to the Palestinian Authority, allocating 620 million euros for support and reform and 576 million euros for the “resilience and recovery” of the West Bank and Gaza, with an additional 400 million euros in credit to be provided by the European Investment Bank. Suica mentioned that the EU’s average support to the Palestinian Authority over the past 12 years amounted to 400 million euros, stating, “We are now investing in the Palestinian Authority in a reliable manner.”