Date :22 Jun 2010
The French government is set to offer 23 million Euros to the Palestinian Authority 2010 budget, after signing an agreement on Monday, a statement read.

PA premier Salam Fayyad and French Consul General in Jerusalem Frederic Desagneaux ratified the financial support package, which will be implemented through French-Palestinian framework partnership document signed in Paris in December 2009 by the French Minister of Foreign Bernard Kouchner, and the Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Malki.

Desagneaux said France wished to allocate 3.5 million euros to projects in East Jerusalem, having previously allocated 5 million euros for reconstruction programs in Gaza in 2009.

The 2009 protocol sets aside 68 million euros a year over three years, totaling French aid to the PA at around 200 million euros, aimed a t supporting the water sector, the urban infrastructure and municipal development and the private and health sectors, a statement read.

The statement said France's contribution "gives concrete expression" to government support for strengthening Palestinian institutions. source: ma'an