RAMALLAH, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Authority (PA) on Tuesday lauded the European Parliament for vetoing a proposal to stop European funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
PA Foreign Minister Reyad al-Malki said in a press statement that "the decision of the European Parliament to keep funding UNRWA is a new victory to the Palestinian diplomacy."
"The parliament's vote in favor of keeping the European funding and providing additional financial aid to the UNRWA reiterates the European Union's stable positions in supporting the Palestinian," said al-Malki.
Earlier on Tuesday, the European Parliament's Budget Committee foiled a proposal presented by the Christian Democrats to suspend the European Union (EU) funding to the UNRWA due to alleged "corruption and mismanagement" of the agency's international aid.
Palestinian Ambassador to the EU Abdel Rahim al-Farra said the committee usually discusses EU budget items, while recommendations are made to the European Parliament's plenary convened on Oct. 23.
He told the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) that the bid to stop the EU funding to the UNRWA wasn't approved as members of the parliament's budget committee opposed to it.
Established by the UN General Assembly in 1949, the UNRWA serves around 5 million Palestinian refugees who have registered in its five areas, including Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories of West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The UNRWA services include providing education, health care, aid relief, social services, infrastructure, camp improvement and microcredit for Palestinian refugees.
