(JNS.org) The European Union (EU) announced Tuesday that it has approved a new $274.1 million aid package for the Palestinians. According to the EU, $184 million will be given directly to the Palestinian Authority (PA) for delivering health and education services, helping poor families, and providing financial assistance to hospitals in eastern Jerusalem. The other $89 million will be given to theUnited Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, also called on Palestinian institutions to “become more transparent, more accountable, and more democratic.” While the EU’s announcement referred to the PA as “Palestine,” it also noted that “this designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the [EU] Member States on this issue.” Over the past few years, a number of EU member nations have passed symbolic resolutions calling on their governments to recognize Palestinian statehood. Sweden is the only EU member state to officially recognize Palestinian statehood.