CAIRO, April 16 (MENA) - Egypt welcomed the European Commission's announcement of a Multiannual Comprehensive Support Program for Palestinian financial recovery and resilience worth €1.6 billion as it reflects the European Union (EU)'s support for the Palestinian Authority and the empowerment of Palestinian institutions and contributes to achieving aspirations of Palestinian people and meeting their legitimate needs in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates affirmed in a statement Wednesday that the EU's stand embodies an understanding of dire need to support the Palestinian people at this critical stage of their history of struggle, and to work towards a just and lasting settlement for the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution.

Egypt also welcomed the €82 million allocated to support Palestinian refugees through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), given the Agency's indispensable role in providing basic services and scaling up humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees, the statement read.

Egypt voiced aspiration that the Union would continue its support for the Palestinian Authority and to participate effectively and constructively in the Gaza Early Recovery and Reconstruction Conference, Egypt is scheduled to host in cooperation with the United Nations and the Palestinian government, according to the statement. (MENA)

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