Press Release: Commission co-chairs Palestinian Donors Conference and announces €440 million ($650 million) to the Palestinians for 2008

European Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner unveiled today a pledge of €440 million ($650 million) to the Palestinian people for 2008 at the Paris Donors Conference. The Conference is co-chaired by France, the European Commission, Norway and Quartet Special Representative Blair. Also attending this meeting will be Palestinian President Abbas, Prime Minister Fayyad, Israel Foreign Minister Livni and representatives of all international donors to the Palestinians. Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will also announce the launching in February 2008 of PEGASE, a new financial mechanism to provide assistance to the Palestinians which will cooperate closely with the Palestinian Authority and will contribute to the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan. Furthermore, Benita Ferrero-Waldner will also participate in the first Quartet meeting after the Annapolis Conference.

European Commission: MEMO/07/589: How is the European Commission responding to the needs of the Palestinians http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/589&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission: SPEECH/07/824: Palestinian Donors Conference http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/07/824&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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