Brussels: Second Donors Meeting to Discuss Support for the Palestinian Government and Early Recovery Plan for Gaza

SadaNews - The second ministerial meeting of the Palestine Donor Group (PDG) kicked off this morning in the Belgian capital, Brussels, with the participation of Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica, and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, alongside representatives from donor countries, institutions, and international partners, to discuss support for the Palestinian government and enhance the response to early recovery needs and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip.

Delegations and senior officials began arriving at the European Commission headquarters (Berlaymont building) this morning, with around 65 international and regional partners present. The meeting commenced at 9 AM Brussels time, featuring officials from the Palestinian government, the European Union, and donor countries, in preparation for the ministerial session later in the afternoon.

The conference agenda, which will run throughout the day until 7 PM, includes two main tracks: the morning session for senior officials, co-chaired by officials from the European Commission's Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa, and Gulf, and Palestinian Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Issa Safana, focusing on the financial and economic situation of the Palestinian Authority and the progress made in government reform programs. Additionally, there will be a session dedicated to discussing early recovery needs in the Gaza Strip and mechanisms for coordinating international support in the upcoming phase, in line with the peace plan for Gaza and UN Security Council Resolution 2803.

The evening session is expected to include a ministerial meeting, chaired by the European Commissioner for the Middle East and Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, addressing ways to enhance partnerships with the international community, mobilizing political and financial support for the Palestinian Authority, and coordinating international efforts to support recovery and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip.

The second meeting will also see the signing of new additional commitment agreements under the European "PEGASE" mechanism, which is the main tool for the European Union to support the Palestinian Authority and fund essential expenses. In addition, the "Team Gaza Initiative" will be launched, aimed at coordinating and leveraging ongoing and planned early recovery funding from participating donors, assessing the economic situation of the Palestinian Authority, and the international financial support provided to it through the PEGASE mechanism.