About the European Union
The EU and the Middle East Peace Process
decided gradually to link together their know-how, resources and destinies. Together, during a period
The EU’s main objective is the creation of a viable and democratic Palestinian state, living side-by-side with Israel and its other neighbours in peace and security. It is Process and participates in the Middle East Quartet, along with the UN, the US and Russia, which is working towards a two-state solution. Developments in the region and the oPt are regularly debated by the EU Council of Foreign Ministers. Partnership for Peace Programme (PfPP) which supports local and international civil society initiatives promoting peace, tolerance and non-violence in the Middle East with an annual budget ranging
of heightened stability, democracy and economic diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms. The EU is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders.
Find out more…
ENP website
http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/index_en.htm
The ENPI
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/neighbourhood/overview
ENPI Info Centre webpage – Occupied Palestinian Territory Jordan and the oPt, promotes peace and cooperation initiatives with an impact on people’s everyday lives. Projects vary, from activities involving women and children to the environment, education, culture, tourism and business cooperation.
A PARTNERSHIP FOR PROSPERITY
www.enpi-info.eu/countrymed.php?country=10
EuropeAid Development Cooperation – Neighbourhood
http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/neighbourhood/index_en.htm
EC Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection – oPt
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/aid/north_africa_mid_east/palestinian_en.htm
UNRWA
www.unrwa.org
UNRWA and EU Humanitarian Aid supporting UNRWA’s work with Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the oPt. It contributes to UNRWA’s regular budget for basic operations, enabling the agency to provide essential services to
The European Union and the Palestinians
education, health and social protection. European Commission (ECHO) in the oPt provides emergency assistance and relief to the most vulnerable of the Palestinians. work” provides short-term employment and a temporary income to the most vulnerable of the community. Access to food and water and providing emergency health care are also at the focus of some of the EU’s other humanitarian aid work.
The European Union Representative Tel: (+972 2) 541 58 88 Fax: (+972 2) 541 58 48 delegation-west-bank-gaza@eeas.europa.eu
This publication has been produced with the support of the EU-funded ENPI Info Centre © European Commission, 2011 Photo copyright: David Levene/Oxfam
The EU Representative
T
he EU has been maintaining close relations with the Palestinian Authority (PA) for many years now, with both partners looking to bring about social, economic and sector reforms and to build the institutions of a future Palestinian State. To this end, the EU is supporting the priorities set out in the PA’s National Developmen , which focuses on the vision of setting up viable state institutions in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), mainly through reinforcing the rule of law and transparent public financial management. Political and economic cooperation between the two partners is defined by the joint EU-PA Ac , whereas the legal basis for relations is the Interim Association Agreement on Trade and Cooperation signed with the PL The PA also participates in the Euro-Mediterranean process, is a full partner within the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and benefits from its financial instrument the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI). Ever since the declaration of the European Council of Venic supporting the two-state solution. Since the Oslo Accor cooperation has focused on development and building the institutions of the future Palestinian State, with the EU supporting numerous projects ranging from the agricultural, health and education sector to capacity building at the judiciary and ministerial level. Following the outbreak of the second In responding to the new socio-economic situation, it also geared its assistance towards more direct financial support. The EU is the single biggest donor to the Palestinians and the largest multilateral donor to Palestine refugees through UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East).
Regional Cooperation in the Mediterranean The Palestinian Authority is an active member of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, also known as the Barcelona Process, launched in November to create a Mediterranean region of peace, security and shared prosperity through dialogue and co-operation. The Partnership was re for the Mediterranean (UfM), at a summit attended b ate and government. Six priority projects are at the heart of the UfM: the de-pollution of the Mediterranean Sea; the establishment of maritime and land highways; civil protection initiatives to combat natural and man-made disasters; a Mediterranean solar energy plan; the inauguration of the EuroMediterranean University in Slovenia and the Mediterranean Business Development Initiative focusing on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
Cooperation Priorities The EU is the most reliable partner of the Palestinian people and is present at all levels of life in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, from building new infrastructure to supporting Palestinian civil society. Cooperation between the EU and the PA focuses on ways of improving the lives of Palestinians and helping them move towards viable statehood. The priorities and some examples of what is done are: Rule of law: Support to the e ective reform of the judiciary sector, marked improvement of the security sector by improving infrastructure and also modernizing the police force. The EUPOL COPPS (EU Police Coordinating O ce for Palestinian Police Support) mission, renewable on an annual basis, aims to help the PA build a professional civil police and supervises training courses for new recruits. Private sector development: The EU also seeks to increase the export performance of Palestinian agricultural products via a tax-free, quota-free trade agreement, and helps small and medium scale businesses develop their marketing strategies. The Private Sector Reconstruction Programme in Gaza is crucial to stimulating economic activity in the Strip and creating employment.
PEGASE for salaries and social allowances T to support the PA in achieving the three-year Palestinian Reform and Development Plan (PRDP) has developed into the main instrument used directly to channel financial assistance to Palestinians. To facilitate good Governance, PEGASE is used to contribute to the payment of the salaries of PA civil servants and pensioners, thus ensuring essential public services such as schools and hospitals keep operating. I Towards promoting Social Protection and Development, the mechanism enables social allowance payments to be made to the poorest and most vulnerable Palestinian households, more than half of whom are in Gaza.
Living conditions: Ensuring that access to water and sanitation services are improved on a sustainable basis is key to the Palestinians, but for this to be achieved largescale investment projects are needed. The EU is supporting this e ort, for example through the funding of a project that brings drinking water t Palestinians in five villages in the areas of Northern West Bank, where locals used to rely on water purchased at high prices from private tankers.
How EU Assistance Works
Other cooperation instruments
The Palestinians benefit from various financial instruments developed by the EU to e ectively implement assistance programmes to the Neighbouring countries. Assistance is given either bilaterally, that is to a country, or regionally, for projects in more than two countries. The key instrument is the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), launched in Januar to implement agreements under the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The ENPI, managed by DG EuropeAid – Development Cooperation, is the instrument through which decisions taken on a political level are turned into actions on the ground. It provides assistance t countries: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Russia, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine.
Palestinians also benefit from additional funds under thematic programmes, including:
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European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) - supporting liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law;
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Food Security – increasing availability and improving access to food;
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7th Framework Programme 2007-2013 (FP7) – science, technology and innovation research programmes;
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Tempus project for higher education students & Erasmus Mundus promoting cooperation between higher education institutions;
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The European Investment Bank’s arm for the Mediterranean, the Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP);
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Non-state Actors programme - encouraging non-state actors and local authorities to get more involved in development issues;
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Investing in People – supporting actions in the area of human and social development, especially in the area of Gender Equality.