Palestine, refugees: 10th EC-UNRWA Convention, additional funding for 1999-2001

PURPOSE : to increase the financial contribution given by the European Community to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). CONTENT : The Commission has noted UNRWA's financial difficulties and the increased burdens placed upon it by the current crisis in the Middle East. The main problem for the organisation is not over-expenditure in relation to the budget, but shortfalls in income. There is support among donors, including Member States, for UNRWA to provide a minimum of support to refugees. The Commission proposes an exchange of letters between the Community and UNRWA concerning an additional contribution of EUR 15 million to the exisiting funding in 2001 under the current EC-UNRWA Convention for the years 1999-2001. The necessary appropriations of EUR 15 million will be transferred from B7-420 (Community operations connected with the Israel/PLO Peace Agreement).�