Luxembourg, 14 April 2025
Today, at the occasion of the first ever High-Level Political Dialogue between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority, the Commission is proposing a multiannual Comprehensive Support Programme worth up to €1.6 billion, to foster Palestinian recovery and resilience.
With this Programme, the EU reiterates its unwavering support for the Palestinian people and its commitment to a lasting and sustainable peace based on the Two-State solution.
It will cover the period from 2025 to 2027 and is structured around three pillars:
Support to services for Palestinian people
Around €620 million in grants of direct assistance to the budget of the Palestinian Authority (PA). This is an increase compared to previous years. It will support the PA to address the most urgent needs of the public administration. The funds will also help the Palestinian Authority to continue delivering services to its people.
Most of EU disbursements will be linked to the Palestinian Authority’s progress on key reforms in fiscal sustainability, democratic governance, private sector development and public infrastructure and services; contributing to sustainable state-building across Palestinian territories. The EU and the Palestinian Authority have identified these reforms in the Reform Matrix, agreed in November 2024. The EU will disburse its direct financial assistance via the EU mechanism PEGASE to guarantee the necessary controls and existing safeguards regarding the final recipients of the EU support.
Support to recovery and stabilization of the West Bank and in Gaza
Around €576 million in grants are proposed to support concrete projects on the ground to foster economic recovery and resilience in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and in Gaza, once the situation on the ground allows. Thanks to an integrated approach the focus will be on different sectors including, water, energy, infrastructure. As part of this pillar to increase resilience, we are proposing to allocate €82 million per year to provide services to Palestine refugees via the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), both in the occupied Palestinian territories and the wider region. This will enable UNRWA to continue playing its crucial role both as a humanitarian and a development actor.
The support for the private sector
As part of the Multiannual Comprehensive Programme for Palestine 2025-2027, the Commission will support with loans for up to €400 million by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to new finance to the Palestinian private sector, subject to approval of EIB’s Governing Bodies.
Mobilising international support via a dedicated Donor Platform
In addition, the Commission will launch a dedicated Palestine Donor Platform. The Platform will offer a forum for the Palestinian Authority to present the implementation of its Reform Agenda and will ensure full transparency in the implementation of the Programme. This Platform will also allow for discussions on key elements for future engagement on Gaza and coordinate international efforts for its recovery and reconstruction, once conditions allow.
Background
On 19 July 2024, the EU and the Palestinian Authority have signed a Letter of Intent which has set out a strategy for addressing the critical budgetary and fiscal situation of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian economy.
The Letter of Intent put forward a two-step approach:
- An emergency financial support of €400 million to the Palestinian Authority that has been disbursed between July 2024 and February 2025.
- The Programme, which has been presented today.
The EU Comprehensive Programme for Palestine 2025-2027 is the Commission’s proposal resulting from further discussions with the Palestinian Authority and various partners. It can be flexibly adjusted to the conditions on the ground according to needs.
The EU is the biggest provider of external assistance to the Palestinians with a bilateral allocation amounting to indicatively €1.36 billion for 2021-2024, of which over €1.043 billion have already been allocated.
*This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the Member States on this issue.
More information
- Palestine website
- Factsheet: EU – Palestine relations
- Factsheet: Comprehensive Programme for Palestinian Recovery and Resilience
Quote(s)
The EU is determined to support the Palestinian Authority in its reform efforts. This will reinforce the PA’s ability to meet the needs of the Palestinian people in the West Bank and prepare it to return to govern Gaza once conditions allow. The Comprehensive Programme for Palestine is designed to promote greater Palestinian control, autonomy, and capacity. The EU remains firmly committed to the Two-State solution, as the only way to achieve sustainable peace and security for Israel, the Palestinians, and the region.
Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the EU Commission
Today’s proposal aims to support the Palestinian people in their efforts to build a sustainable future. We want to enhance their governance, economic recovery, and boost the grow of the local private sector businesses. A well-functioning and reformed Palestinian Authority must play a central role in post-conflict governance of Gaza. The dedicated Donor Platform will ensure that international support efforts are aligned, effective, and tailored to the needs on the ground, including in Gaza, when conditions allow.
Dubravka Šuica, EU Commissioner for Mediterranean
Source – EU Commission
Main results: 1st EU-Palestine High-Level Political Dialogue, 14 April 2025
Luxembourg, 14 April 2025
The first ever meeting of the EU-Palestine High-Level Political Dialogue took place in Luxembourg on 14 April 2025. Political matters and bilateral relations were discussed.
In the context of the political dialogue, the EU and Palestinian Authority exchanged views concerning the conflict in Gaza, the unfolding situation in the West Bank and the Israel-Palestinian relations, as well as the prospects for advancing the Two State Solution.
Participants discussed on bilateral relations, including the Palestinian Authority’s ambitious reform agenda, and how the EU can best support it in this crucial endeavour.
The meeting was co-chaired by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, and the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian Authority, Mohammad Mustafa. The Commission was represented by Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica and Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib.
Source – EU Council
Palestine: Statement by the High Representative on the High-Level Dialogue between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority
Luxembourg, 14 April 2025
The European Union welcomes the first meeting of the High-Level Dialogue between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority (PA), which represents a significant milestone in our relationship. The EU attaches great importance to its relations with Palestine and remains the largest provider of external assistance to the Palestinian people. The High-Level Dialogue is also an opportunity to discuss the conflict in Gaza and the importance of a political horizon based on the two-state solution.
The EU and the PA discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in line with the interim Association Agreement. The EU commends the PA’s readiness to continue its ambitious reform agenda, despite the challenges involved, and will continue to accompany and support the PA on this path. The meeting itself, and the financial package announced by the Commission, are a testament to the EU’s long-standing support to the PA and the Palestinian people in these challenging times.
In the High-Level Dialogue, the EU expressed its grave concern about the breakdown of the ceasefire in Gaza and Israel’s resumption of hostilities that have caused the death of thousands of civilians, including children. Israel must reinstate humanitarian aid to Gaza. The EU called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, the resumption of negotiations on the ceasefire in Gaza, and an enduring end to hostilities. The EUBAM Rafah Mission is also ready to resume its monitoring activity at the Rafah Crossing Point, once conditions allow it. The Mission helped more than four thousand people seeking medical attention and accompanying family members cross over to Egypt.
The number of civilian casualties, especially women, children and humanitarian workers, in Gaza and the West Bank is unacceptable, and the risk of hunger and famine imminent. The EU reiterated its solidarity with the Palestinian people who continue to be heavily affected by events unfolding in both Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The EU also expressed its deep concern at the high level of violence in the West Bank and reiterated its opposition to the settlement policy of Israel and recalled its sanctions against violent settlers.
It is time to break the cycle of violence. Stability is also a prerequisite for swift reconstruction. In that regard, the EU welcomed the Arab Recovery and Reconstruction Plan endorsed at the Cairo Summit on 4 March 2025 and is ready to engage with its Arab partners, as well as with other international partners, on that basis.
The EU is resolutely committed to a just, comprehensive and lasting peace, based on the implementation of the Two-State solution, with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable State of Palestine living side-by-side in peace, security and mutual recognition, with Jerusalem as the future capital of both states. The EU will continue to spare no effort to help revive a political process, including through the Global Alliance for the implementation of the Two-State Solution, and is looking forward to the High Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, hosted by France and Saudi Arabia in June.
The EU reiterated its condemnation in the strongest terms of the brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks conducted by Hamas and other terrorist groups against Israel on 7 October 2023. The EU recalled that Israel must fully comply with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, in all circumstances. The EU reiterates the importance of ensuring the protection of all civilians, including humanitarian workers, at all times, as well as civilian infrastructures. 18 months after the terrorist attacks by Hamas across Israel, the abduction of hostages, and the ensuing conflict in Gaza, there are still 59 hostages in captivity and no permanent ceasefire. The resumption of negotiations is essential to end the hostilities, ensure the release of all hostages, and ease the humanitarian suffering in Gaza.
Source – EEAS
EU-Palestine High-Level Political Dialogue: press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas after the meeting
Luxembourg, 14 April 2025
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Dear Prime Minister Mustafa, it is a real pleasure to have this first ever High-Level Political Dialogue and I hope that there are many more such meetings to come. Of course, we all wish that this was taking place under different circumstances. Let me again express our solidarity with the Palestinian people at the appalling loss of life and destruction in Gaza.
We condemned the total blockade of aid into Gaza and Israel must fully reinstate humanitarian aid. During the first phase of ceasefire, EUBAM Rafah supported over 4000 people from Gaza to Egypt, including many sick and with medical needs.
You know that you can count on EUBAM Rafah in the future, including potentially facilitating the delivery of goods to Gaza and supporting the Palestinian Authority returning to Gaza.
In the West Bank, we are very concerned about the worsening situation. This includes the displacement of tens of thousands of people, as well as the restricted access to essential services such as healthcare and education.
I would also like to add here that the EU is strongly opposed to Israel’s settlement policy, including in and around East Jerusalem. We call on Israel to halt its settlement expansion. We have imposed sanctions on extremist settlers, and I will work to seek consensus on further restrictive measures.
Security cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian security forces has been crucial and should be reinforced. Ultimately, the European Union position is clear on the fact that there is no military way through this war. Resuming negotiations is the only way to put an end to the suffering on both sides. We fundamentally believe in a negotiated Two-State solution.
[More] importantly our discussions today went beyond the dire immediate needs and formed the basis of long-term cooperation. I commend the Palestinian Authority and its readiness to pursue reforms despite the extremely difficult circumstances.
It is important that you deliver on them as well and this is also important for your capacity to govern the Gaza Strip. You have our full support.
Through EUPOL COPPS mission, we could also continue assisting the Palestinian Authority in strengthening institutions, notably ministers dealing with security and justice. We also discussed the needs of Palestinian civilian police, including their needs in policing Gaza in the future. EUPOL COPPS is ready to support here.
We will also work to deepen our bilateral cooperation, and I know that you wish to participate in Horizon Europe, our research programme, so we will explore this opportunity.
Dear Mohammed, you know that you can count on our full support to Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian People. That is why today the EU announced a new multiannual support package for Palestine worth of €1.6 billion over the next two years, but Commissioner Šuica will elaborate on that. The European Union will invest in essential infrastructure, deliver humanitarian aid and support refugees. Thank you again their Prime Minister for being here and the floor is yours.
Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-270528
Q&A
It’s about the political significance of this political dialogue or the first round of this dialogue, while on the ground 80% of Gaza is destroyed. More than that, or more serious than that, that Israel is destroying the Palestinian people in Gaza and the ongoing settlement in the West Bank.
The importance of today’s meeting: as we 27 countries in European Union have agreed to support the Two-State solution. It is also important that the two states would be more equal and that is why we are also having this High-Level Political Dialogue with Palestine, to raise the importance of Palestine. On the other side to have more equal parties to this process. And, I hear you, this situation is very grave and there is frustration that we cannot do enough to stop that. We have called on ceasefire and humanitarian aid to reach Gaza and of course, for the international law to be followed when it comes to the casualties of war as well. But I think that we are still looking ahead for the future and to having the Two-State solution, to have a place where the security of Israel is taken into account while also respecting the rights of Palestinians. I think this is important.
HRVP you mentioned that you would be working on sanctions on extremist settlers and work on consensus on this. Can you maybe just clarify the political impacts? I mean so far, we have not seen any impact on the settler’s violence against Palestinians. So, is there may be no consensus among member states to escalate further? It would be interesting to understand a little bit more the discussions on this.
So, the discussions we have on the sanctions, they go in line with the countries’ support. You know how the countries are in this regard. To send a very strong signal that we deplore the settler violence, we need to also have tangible steps and therefore we have proposed sanctions. But so far, we do not have 27 Member States on board. Some Member States are saying that: “Yes, but it should be on equal footing to put members of Hamas under sanctions” but to be very clear, we have put many and there are not many left as well. So, it cannot be equal footing anyhow. This is clear that if we deplore in words, then we should also follow in deeds, and it is hard with 27. We have many issues like this, but we are still working on it.
Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-270859
Source – EEAS