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News Releases
No. 06/08
January 28, 2008
EUROPEAN UNION LAUNCHES NEW MECHANISM TO SUPPORT THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
On February 1, 2008, the European Commission will launch
the
PEGASE mechanism, a new instrument to channel EU and
international assistance to the Palestinian State, as a
follow-up to the current
Temporary International
Mechanism (TIM).
PEGASE will run for the next three
years. Based on the Reform and Development Plan of the
Palestinian Authority, it will channel assistance to
four key areas: governance, social development, economic
and private sector development, and public
infrastructure.
 "The European Union is strongly committed to support the
Palestinian Authority's reform and development
priorities aiming at boosting the economy and improving
the life of all Palestinians," said EU
External Relations
Commissioner
Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
"PEGASE will
provide greater stability and predictability to our
action as the largest donors to the Palestinians and
emphasize the
ownership of the Palestinian Authority in
the process of reforms and development."
PEGASE will channel support for the three-year
Palestinian Reform and Development Plan (PRDP), which was
presented by Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad at
the Paris Donor Conference last December 17. It will be
implemented in full partnership with the Palestinian
authorities. PEGASE, which covers EU assistance to West
Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, will be coordinated
locally with
EU Member States and other international
partners.
The PEGASE
mechanism builds upon the success of the
Temporary International Mechanism, which attracted
contributions of 190 million euros from 19 international
donors, including 15 EU Member States. However, while
the TIM was an emergency assistance mechanism renewed
every three-month, PEGASE will be an instrument covering
a wider range of activities and lasting three years, the
same period as the Palestinian Reform and Development
Plan. PEGASE will also be open to international donors.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.eurunion.org/newsweb/HotTopics/mideast.htm
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Further Contact Information:
Press and Public Diplomacy
Delegation of the European Commission
2300 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
http://www.eurunion.org/PressRoom
Tel: 202-862-9552
Fax: 202-429-1766
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