EU contributes €246mn for UNRWA

 EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, and EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, Stefan Fule, signed here Wednesday a Joint Declaration on EU support for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) for the period 2014-2016, with UNRWA Commissioner- General, Pierre Krahenbuhl.
Under the agreement, the EU contribution to UNRWA's General Fund for core services in 2014-2016 will amount to some 246 million euro.
"The EU remains a steadfast partner for Palestine refugees amid the uncertainty of the Middle East right now and this three year agreement offers much needed predictability," said Krahenbuhl in a press statement.
"This contribution is important because there is an increasing recognition among European audiences that international assistance to Palestine refugees is being accompanied by the promotion of rights, not just to high standards of human development, but also to a just and lasting resolution of their plight," he added.
On her part, Ashton said "The EU's continuing support to UNRWA is a key element in our strategy to promote stability in the Middle East and facilitate the parties' quest for peace." "It also contributes to securing access to basic social services, reducing poverty and improving refugees' living standards. For over forty two years, the EU has remained committed to supporting UNRWA", she added.