CONVENTION between the European Community and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) concerning aid to refugees in the countries of the Near East

Article 1

The European Community (hereinafter referred to as 'the Community`) hereby concludes this Convention with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (hereinafter referred to as 'UNRWA`) in order to confirm its commitment to a programme of aid to UNRWA. This aid shall take the form of contributions in kind or in cash extending over a three-year period for use under the UNRWA education, health and feeding programmes.

Article 2

1. The Community shall pay to UNRWA annually a cash contribution towards the cost of the education and health programmes. The size of this contribution shall be ECU 28 million in 1996, ECU 29,4 million in 1997 and ECU 30,9 million in 1998 for the education programme; ECU 3,4 million in 1996, ECU 3,6 million in 1997 and ECU 3,8 million in 1998 for the general health programme; and ECU 2,7 million in 1996, ECU 2,3 million in 1997 and ECU 1,8 million in 1998 for various specific components of the health programme (including the operation and expansion of the family planning programme, and for other support staff). The distribution of these amounts between the three headings stipulated will be amenable to adjustment by UNRWA each year, according to its needs, and on condition that the Commission is informed accordingly.

2. UNRWA shall send the Community each year a report on the use made of the Community contribution. UNRWA shall also provide the Community with any documentation that it may require relating to the execution of the education and health programmes, including the supplementary feeding programmes; as well as any documents that will give detailed accounts of expenditure and budgetary estimates of future expenditure and the annual statistics of the UNRWA departments of education and health.

3. UNRWA shall inform the Community of any significant changes that may be planned in the education or health services provided by the Agency.

4. In the event of any significant changes in the education or health services provided by UNRWA during the period of validity of this Convention, the Community reserves the right to withdraw its agreement on the use of the funds made available to UNRWA under the Convention for these purposes. In such a case or cases the Community would notify UNRWA accordingly.

Article 3

Aid for UNRWA's food aid programmes

1. Other Community resources can also be mobilized to meet the specific needs of vulnerable groups.

2. The amounts and characteristics of the commodities and services provided will be subject to separately agreed financing conditions, based on annual requests from UNRWA.

3. UNRWA shall send the Community, each year, a report on the operation of the feeding programmes, indicating in particular the number, category and location of recipients and the services provided, the cost of the programmes and the use made of Community contributions in kind and in cash.

Article 4

Review

By the end of 1997, political developments regarding the refugees will be reviewed by the parties, and an evaluation made of any plans UNRWA has formulated, and, if this is the case, put into effect, for the handover of its functions to the Palestinian Council and/or any other body.

Article 5

Adjustments

If, during the life of the Convention, any or all of the functions of UNRWA are transferred to the Palestinian Council or to any other body, adjustments will be made, as appropriate, to those parts of the Community contribution to UNRWA under the Convention which are otherwise fixed under Article 2 (1), on the basis of an exchange of letters between the Community and UNRWA.

Article 6

Financial control, and visits

1. UNRWA shall:

(a) keep financial and accounting documents concerning the activities financed by the Community; and

(b) make available to the competent bodies of the Community, upon request, all relevant financial information including statements of accounts concerning the programme/project, whether they are executed by UNRWA or by subcontracting.

In conformity with the Financial Regulation of the Community, the Commission and the Court of Auditors may undertake, including on the spot, checks related to the operations financed by the Community.

2. UNRWA will facilitate the visits of representatives of the Community to the sites of UNRWA operations.

Article 7

Any dispute arising out of this Convention shall be settled by consultation between the two parties at the request of either party.

Article 8

Duration of the Convention

This Convention shall cover a period of three calendar years (1996, 1997 and 1998).

Article 9

This Convention shall be drawn up in duplicate in the Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish languages, each version being equally authentic.

Por la Comunidad Europea

For Det Europæiske Fællesskab

Für die Europäische Gemeinschaft

Ãéá ôçí ÅõñùðáúêÞ Êïéíüôçôá

For the European Community

Pour la Communauté européenne

Per la Comunità europea

Voor de Europese Gemeenschap

Pela Comunidade Europeia

Euroopan yhteisön puolesta

På Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar

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Por el Organismo de Obras Públicas y Socorro de las Naciones Unidas para los Refugiados de Palestina (UNRWA)

For De Forenede Nationers Hjælpeorganisation for Palæstina-flygtninge (UNRWA)

Für das Hilfswerk der Vereinten Nationen für Palästinaflüchtlinge (UNRWA)

Ãéá ôçí Õðçñåóßá ÁñùãÞò êáé ¸ñãùí ôùí ÇíùìÝíùí Åèíþí ãéá ôïõò ðñüóöõãåò ôçò Ðáëáéóôßíçò (UNRWA)

For the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA)

Pour l'Office de secours et de travaux des Nations unies pour les réfugiés de Palestine (UNRWA)

Per l'Ente soccorso e lavori delle Nazioni Unite per i profughi della Palestina nel Vicino Oriente (UNRWA)

Voor de Organisatie van de Verenigde Naties voor hulpverlening aan Palestijnse vluchtelingen (UNRWA)

Pela Agência das Nações Unidas de Assistência aos Refugiados da Palestina (UNRWA)

Yhdistyneiden Kansakuntien Palestiinan pakolaisten avustus- ja työjärjestön (UNRWA) puolesta

Förenta nationernas hjälporganisation för palestinska flyktingar (UNRWA)

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