The Brussels-Capital Region Government has signed a developmental cooperation agreement with the Palestinian governorate of Ramallah-Al Bireh.
The agreement was signed in the presence of the Palestinian Ambassador to Belgium, Abdalrahim Alfarra, while the governor of Ramallah-Al Bireh, Laila Ghannam, watched the signing virtually. Ghannam is the only female governor in Palestine. Ans Persoons (Vooruit.brussels), Secretary of State for International Relations, and Rudi Vervoort (PS), Prime Minister, represented the Brussels Government during the agreement’s signing.
Solidified in the agreement is a mutual commitment to strengthen local development within the region. Both sides aim to enhance the socioeconomic, scientific, environmental and health development for the 400,000 residents of the Ramallah-Al Bireh governorate.
The Brussels Government will share "technological and administrative expertise" with the governorate alongside establishing close ties. Urban development, sustainable mobility, preservation and protection of regional heritage, social rights, and tackling social exclusion are also at the top of the list.
Initial plans to sign the cooperation agreement with Ramallah-Al Bireh first began in 2021. Originally proposed to be signed on-site last year, tensions and violent incidents in the region shifted the November 2023 mission to a digital conference instead.
€430,000 has been allocated to support the Palestinian region as part of the budget of the 12th edition of the South project call, coordinated by Brussels International and hub.brussels. A total of €650,000 in Brussels government funds are assigned to this project, with the residual funds allotted to the Kinshasa City-Province in Congo and the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region in Morocco.
"International solidarity is more vital than ever. A metropolis is always connected to the rest of the world." Persoons said. She justifies the aim to amplify economic development and social rights in the occupied areas, while emphasising that the Brussels Government is not taking sides against Israel – but makes a clear choice to cooperate with these areas in need.
Lastly, Vervoort said: "The situation in Palestine causes great concern for all." He expresses dismay about the current humanitarian crisis in the area and pledges, "We will do everything to continue our work and keep supporting the Palestinian people."
