The Diplomat
Spain is contributing 1.5 million euros to pay social benefits to vulnerable families in Palestine, as part of a European Union programme, which also includes eight million euros from France and totals 26.3 million euros.
With contributions from the EU, France and Spain, it has been possible to pay social allowances to 106,596 vulnerable families in Palestine through the national cash transfer programme.
The EU supports the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) of the Palestinian Authority (PA), responsible for the provision of basic social protection to the most vulnerable families in the West Bank and Gaza, through its cash transfer programme (CTP).
For this payment, the EU has more than doubled its usual financial contribution, providing 26.3 million euros (including 8 million euros from France and 1.5 million euros from Spain) through the PEGASE mechanism for the payment of social grants to 70,108 families, selected by PEGASE auditors. Several independent and external controls are carried out before and after the European disbursement. The PA is in charge of the remaining 36,488 families.
This afternoon, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, is expected to receive his Palestinian counterpart, Raid Al Malki, in Madrid, to whom, among other things, he will reiterate Spain’s commitment to development cooperation in Palestine, which has been maintained by all governments.
