Yesterday, the European Commission proposed additional support for UNRWA to allow the agency to keep providing access to education for 500,000 Palestine refugee children, primary health care for more than 3.5 million patients and assistance to over 250,000 vulnerable Palestine refugees.

During the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Ministerial meeting in the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini said: “Today we reaffirm the EU’s political and financial support to UNRWA, with an overall contribution from the EU and its Member States of €1.2 billion for the past three years. UNRWA is essential for the perspective of a two-state solution. Supporting the agency means supporting peace and security in the Middle East. And this is in our strategic interest.”

The European Union has long been the largest and most reliable donor to the agency. This additional support for 2018 brings the overall European Commission contribution to UNRWA’s activities in 2018 to €146 million. For the past three years (2016, 2017 and 2018) the total contribution of the EU and its Member States combined has reached approximately €1.2 billion. The EU also works with UNRWA to take forward internal reforms to secure a sound and sustainable financial basis, which includes focusing on core services to the most vulnerable.

Read more

Press release

EU cooperation with Palestine

EU humanitarian assistance in Palestine

The Office of the European Union Representative (West Bank and Gaza Strip, UNRWA)

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)