JERUSALEM, September 14, 2011 (WAFA) - The European Union is Wednesday making a contribution of approximately €16.3 million to the payment of the August salaries and pensions of more than 83,000 Palestinian civil servants and pensioners in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, said an EU press release.

This contribution, which is channeled through the PEGASE mechanism, is being funded by the European Commission (€11.0 million), the government of Finland (€1.0 million) and the government of Sweden (SEK 40.0 million or approximately €4.3 million).

'With this new monthly contribution to the salaries and pensions of the Palestinian Authority's civil servants, the European Commission, Finland and Sweden demonstrate once more their continuous support to the Palestinian public sector in delivering services to the Palestinian population. The EU trusts that all donors will deliver on their commitments to ensure that such services will not be disturbed at this challenging time,' said acting EU representative, John Gatt-Rutter.

'The generous contributions from the governments of Finland and Sweden also show the confidence that these two countries have in the EU's PEGASE mechanism as a cost-effective and efficient means of supporting the Palestinian Authority in its efforts to build the institutions of the future Palestinian State.'

M.S.