The European Commission guarantees that it has ways to ensure that aid from European funds does not end up with terrorist activities or with Hamas. But European Commission spokespeople have not ruled out the possibility of a cut in aid intended for medical support, salaries and projects in the occupied territories of Palestine.
The issue will be discussed at the meeting of European Union foreign ministers, which will take place via videoconference on Tuesday.
Austria and Germany announced the suspension of bilateral aid to Palestine. The announcement by the two European countries comes on the eve of the emergency meeting of those responsible for European Union diplomacy, where they will discuss how to tackle the situation in the Middle East.
Foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano said the meeting of the 27’s main agenda item was a call for dialogue and a quick end to hostilities.
“What we want to see is of course an end to Hamas’s current aggression, the release of all hostages and, later, a step towards a lasting solution to the overall tense situation on the ground,” said Peter Stano.
In February 2023, Brussels allocated a package of €199.2 million to support Palestinian Authority expenditure on social grants, medical support, salaries and pensions and projects in the occupied Palestinian territories, in addition to EU-funded projects in East -Jerusalem.
This amount is in addition to the financial support already disbursed of EUR 97 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East, including a supplement of EUR 15 million from the Food and Resilience Facility “with the aim of mitigating the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on food prices and food security,” according to data from the European External Action Service, which highlights that the EU’s full support to the Palestinian people under the 2022 budget allocation amounts to €296 amounts to. million euros.
The European Commission’s neighborhood policy spokesperson, Ana Pisonero, says Brussels has a way to ensure that money is not funneled into terrorist activities.
“The European Union has very strict rules for selecting and vetting the beneficiaries of European funds. And of course, all beneficiaries of European Union financing are obliged to ensure that these funds are not made available, directly or indirectly, to entities, individuals or groups designated under restrictive measures or their representatives,” the spokesperson stressed.
The issue was on the agenda of the European Commission’s daily press conference, with journalists wondering whether Brussels has guarantees that European funds cannot be funneled into Hamas’s purchase of weapons.
Eric Mamer, chief spokesperson for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, guarantees that “the European Union does not finance Hamas or its activities in any way.”
Josep Borrell’s spokesman calls for an easing of tension and the return of dialogue between Israel and Palestine, otherwise “the cycle of violence will only perpetuate itself.” That is why he believes that “both sides, the Palestinians and the Israelis, “must find a solution.” way to reactivate dialogue, to resume peace talks.”
“From the current perspective, it may seem very difficult to initiate dialogue,” acknowledges Peter Stano, emphasizing that “the European Union believes that dialogue and negotiations are the only path to sustainable solutions.”
In these statements, the spokesperson for the High Representative for Foreign Policy reiterated the position of the 27, saying that Brussels “recognizes Israel’s right to self-defense,” in accordance with international and humanitarian law.
Source: DN
