According to a decision reached by EU leaders on Friday in Brussels, the funds will be earmarked for healthcare, electricity supplies and support for poor families in the PA. A mechanism to transfer the money directly to the targets of the largesse, bypassing the official Hamas-led PA government, is to be in place by early July, according to EU spokeswoman Emma Udwin.
The EU has included Hamas on its list of terrorist groups and has frozen funds to the PA since the Islamist group took control of the PA legislature in March. Previously, the EU contributed 500 million euros to the PA every year.
Final approval of the plan to hand over the aid is expected from the the other members of the Quartet - the United States, Russia and the United Nations.
In their statement announcing their decision, the EU leaders urged Israel to resume the transfer of over $50 million worth of tax revenues collected on behalf of the PA. They noted that the Israeli monies could also be transferred using the EU "Hamas-bypass" mechanism.
In addition, the EU statement urged Arab states to "consider early and substantial contributions." The Arab League donated $50 million to the PA in April and agreed to transfer $40 million more at a later date. Separately, Saudi Arabia pledged $92 million.
The EU has included Hamas on its list of terrorist groups and has frozen funds to the PA since the Islamist group took control of the PA legislature in March. Previously, the EU contributed 500 million euros to the PA every year.
Final approval of the plan to hand over the aid is expected from the the other members of the Quartet - the United States, Russia and the United Nations.
In their statement announcing their decision, the EU leaders urged Israel to resume the transfer of over $50 million worth of tax revenues collected on behalf of the PA. They noted that the Israeli monies could also be transferred using the EU "Hamas-bypass" mechanism.
In addition, the EU statement urged Arab states to "consider early and substantial contributions." The Arab League donated $50 million to the PA in April and agreed to transfer $40 million more at a later date. Separately, Saudi Arabia pledged $92 million.