EU pledges $47m to support Palestinian Authority salaries in West Bank

The European Union has pledged €43 million ($47 million) to help the Palestinian Authority cover salaries and pensions for its public sector employees and retirees in the occupied West Bank, reported Wafa news agency.

The EU stated that this financial support aims to assist the PA in fulfilling its obligations to civil servants, who are struggling due to a prolonged economic crisis in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Reduced aid volumes, Israel’s withholding of Palestinian tax revenues and its war against Gaza have hindered the Palestinian administration’s ability to pay public sector salaries in full for over two years.

The EU further clarified that the €43 million is part of an emergency short-term financial aid package to address the Palestinian Authority’s immediate financial challenges. This assistance is focused on supporting civil service workers, particularly in the health and education sectors, as well as retirees in the West Bank.

Maria Velasco, the EU’s deputy representative, highlighted the Union’s continued commitment to making significant contributions to the Palestinian Authority’s budget, especially during these critical times.

She stated: “The EU continues to provide significant support to help pay salaries for government employees and retirees. We support Palestinian teachers, health workers, and social workers who are crucial to education, health, and social services. Our contributions to government salaries and pensions reaffirm our commitment to the efforts in building a Palestinian state.”

The EU also called on Israel to cease withholding Palestinian tax revenues and fulfil its obligations under current agreements. Additionally, it urged Israel to take prompt action to alleviate the worsening economic conditions in the occupied territories, including lifting restrictions on Palestinian labour access.

Read: Israel withholds $26m tax revenue from PA to ‘compensate Israelis’