Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission; Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement and Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, signed a Joint Declaration on the EU’s support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) for the period 2021-2024.

The renewal of this agreement marks 50 years of EU-UNRWA partnership. In the Joint Declaration, the European Union commits to continue supporting UNRWA politically and in securing predictable, multi-annual financial resources to enable the Agency to fulfill its mandate and provide its essential services to Palestinian refugees. This includes quality education for more than half a million children, primary health care services for 3.5 million patients and essential assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable persons.

For its part, UNRWA reiterates its commitment to neutrality, efficiency and transparency, and to its continued reforms and modernisation efforts, discussed at the International Conference in support of the Agency on 16 November.

The EU is the largest multilateral provider of international assistance to Palestine refugees. This reliable and predictable support enables UNRWA to provide core services to more than 5.8 million Palestine refugees in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza, including quality education for roughly half a million children and primary health care for more than 3.5 million patients.

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