EU pledges 410m-euro grants for Jordan’s development over next 3 years

AMMAN — Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury and EU Ambassador to Jordan Andrea Matteo Fontana on Monday signed a joint declaration on the assistance under the Single Support Framework  2017-2020, through which the EU pledged grants up to 410 million euros to Jordan over the next three years. 

“This declaration represents another important step towards strengthening our bilateral relations, and is a clear indication of the EU’s continued support to Jordan’s developmental efforts,” Fakhoury said during the signing ceremony. 

For his part, Fontana noted that “the EU remains a credible partner for Jordan, supporting the Kingdom’s social economic development and stability as laid down in the Vision 2025”.

Under the new multi-annual programme, the EU will support Jordan in the areas of social and economic development, strengthening of the rule of law, border management and prevention of violent extremism, and civil society and capacity building. 

The EU will target its support to deepen the reforms of the education sector under the Human Resource Development Strategy, and strengthen the innovation ecosystem to help reduce unemployment among Jordanian youth, according to Fontana.
Furthermore, the EU will also provide assistance to the social protection system by improving the policy framework and governance structures, he added. 

“The sectoral focus on strengthening the rule of law will contribute to the development of a more independent, transparent and efficient justice system," the ambassador continued, noting that “it will aim at ensuring human and fair treatment of citizens subject to judiciary proceedings”.

In partnership with the Agence Française de Développement, the implementation of the programme started immediately with a simultaneous agreement on the delegation of the management of part of the action. 

A second financing agreement worth 100 million euros was also signed during the ceremony, aimed at implementing the National Solid Waste Management Strategy 2015-2025.

“This aid will consolidate the existing regulatory framework and bring it in line with the objectives set in the national strategy,” Fakhoury said, noting that it will improve the transfer and disposal management system in the central and northern regions and the socioeconomic well-being and health status of waste pickers working at dumpsites. 

“I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the EU for its genuine partnership and commitment to support Jordan’s economic development process,” the minister expressed, concluding that “Jordan continues to count on the EU's financial and technical support to realise our future developmental objectives.”