The European Union (EU) has decided to increase financial aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA). In an interview on Sunday (April 13), EU Commissioner for the Middle East, Dubravka Šuica, said that the new aid package, spanning the next three years, will amount to approximately $1.8 billion, according to a Reuters report.
Šuica acknowledged longstanding allegations of corruption and misgovernance within the PA but stated that financial support and reform initiatives will proceed simultaneously.
She emphasized, “We want the PA to carry out internal reforms. Without it, they will neither be strong enough nor credible. Not just for us, but also for engaging in meaningful dialogue with Israel, they need to build trust and credibility.”
Her comments came ahead of an important meeting between the EU and Palestinian officials. On Monday, a high-level political dialogue is scheduled in Luxembourg between EU foreign ministers and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa along with other senior officials.
The EU, the largest donor to the Palestinians, hopes the PA will eventually take administrative control of Gaza if the war there ends. Currently, the PA governs the West Bank.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently opposed the idea of handing over Gaza to the PA. Additionally, Israel has criticized the EU’s support for a two-state solution.