EU to provide €900 million in aid to Jordan

During the visit of King Abdullah II of Jordan to the European Union, the European Commission (EC) announced financial assistance to the Hashemite Kingdom in the amount of €902 million, according to an EC communique published on November 7 in Brussels.

EC President Ursula thanked “King Abdullah II for his decisive stabilizing role in the region,” Interfax reports.

“The EU is a trusted friend and partner of Jordan, and our cooperation covers many areas from culture to water management, from refugee support to education. That is why I am pleased to announce today that we will continue our strong support for Jordan’s reform process and the modernization of its economy,” von der Leyen is quoted as saying in the document.

Brussels reported that the assistance allocated to Amman consists of €402 million in subsidies and €500 million in loans from the European Investment Bank.

Of the funds, €185 million is intended to improve education and technical training for young people, promote Jordan's cultural heritage and create jobs in the tourism sector.

The package also includes initiatives to assist refugees and host communities vulnerable to access to education, social protection, water and sanitation services.

In addition, EU assistance to Jordan extends to promoting private sector development and providing employment opportunities for youth, in particular supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and creating jobs for young people.

As part of the EU Investment Plan for the Southern Neighborhood, the EU will support investment in Jordan to address water shortages. We are talking about a project for desalination and transportation of Red Sea water from Aqaba to Amman.

The package also includes the provision of a new program for energy efficiency and promotion of biogas production.