The EU will review its development aid for the Palestinians, following the Hamas attack on Israel, the European Commission said on Monday afternoon, without mentioning a suspension announced by one of its commissioners, much to the dismay of some of the 27 member states. .
The European Commission announced that it was launching “an urgent review of the European Union’s aid to Palestine”, when a few hours earlier one of its commissioners, Oliver Varhelyi, announced the suspension of all payments planned within the framework of this development aid.
“All payments were suspended immediately, all projects were re-examined, all budgets relating to the projects, including the one for 2023, were postponed until further notice, the entire program was re-evaluated,” said the Hungarian commissioner responsible for neighborhood and extension, in a message on X (formerly Twitter).
Rather a review of existing programs.
“The magnitude of the terror and brutality against Israel and its people marks a turning point. It is not possible to act as if nothing had happened,” said this commissioner, on the eve of an extraordinary emergency meeting of the foreign ministers of the EU, convened after the Hamas attack on Israel.
This announcement came as a surprise in Brussels and beyond, especially since a Commission spokesperson had just clarified that on Tuesday during this meeting a decision to review European aid to the Palestinians would be presented to the 27.
The European Commission came in the afternoon to rectify the situation in the face of the protests in these capitals. It is no longer a question of suspension but rather a review of existing programs that will be done quickly and in consultation with the 27.
As for the suspension of payments mentioned above by Oliver Varhelyi, according to this press release, it is unnecessary. “As there was no payment planned, there will be no suspension of payments,” the Commission stressed. It will carry out this review “as quickly as possible and coordinate with Member States and its partners any necessary future action,” he added.
Source: BFM TV
