The European Union will be giving $78 million to Hamas: EU to sign aid for Palestinians. (Hat tip: LGF readers.)

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) — The European Union will sign a deal Monday with the United Nations granting euro64 million (US$78 million) in urgent aid for Palestinians, but much more in future funding is under threat after the formation of a government by Hamas, a group the Europeans consider a terrorist group.

The EU foreign ministers will debate the impact of a Hamas government, as will the 25 EU leaders at a Brussels summit later in the week.

On Sunday, a European diplomat said the EU will work with Hamas, but added, “Those putting together the new government must know that how they decide their government program will have repercussions.”

“We’ll look at what (Hamas) adopts as its program, what it says about key issues” such as recognizing Israel and Middle East peace, said the official, who asked not to be named given the sensitive nature of the EU-Palestinian relations.

And then they’ll fork over the dough as usual.