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OPT: EU disburses €12.75 million for Palestinian salaries and pensions

EU disburses €12.75 million for Palestinian salaries and pensions

Today the European Union made its eighth contribution this year to the Palestinian Authority's payment of its civil service salaries and pensions, both in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Its contribution of just under NIS 70 million (€12.75 million) was delivered through the EU's PEGASE[1] mechanism and benefited 80,620 civil servants and pensioners. The payments help to ensure the basic delivery of public services by the Palestinian Authority.

PEGASE channels EU assistance to help build a Palestinian State, in accordance with the priorities and needs identified by the Palestinian Authority. Launched by the European Commission on 1 February 2008, it is the main financing mechanism of the European Union, the largest donor to the Palestinians, and is open to contributions from other donors. Since the beginning of 2009, the PEGASE mechanism has been used by the European Union (Commission and European member states) to deliver €222 million of direct financial support to the Palestinian Authority, in support of Prime Minister Fayyad's budget priorities.

For further information in Arabic and English on the EU's assistance to the occupied Palestinian territory and the PEGASE mechanism, please visit: www.delwbg.ec.europa.eu

[1] Mécanisme Palestino-Européen de Gestion de l'Aide Socio-Economique (PEGASE)

Contact:

Alix de Mauny
Press and Information Manager
European Commission Technical Assistance Office for the West Bank and Gaza Strip
PO Box 22207 Mount of Olives
Jerusalem
Tel: +972 (0)2 541 5888 ext 859
Fax:+972 (0)2 541 5848
NEW WORK MOBILE: +972 (0)54 8024915
Website : www.delwbg.ec.europa.eu