Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Nasser Shraideh, on Tuesday met with European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Varhelyi and his accompanying delegation.
The EU delegation is visiting Jordan to discuss bilateral cooperation between Jordanian and European parties. High-level officials from the European Union mission in Amman also participated in the meeting.
The two officials discussed a set of development issues of common interest to both sides, especially with regard to the partnership priorities between the two sides for the coming years, in light of challenges and impacts of the Syrian crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic on the national economy.
The Commissioner lauded Jordan’s vital role as a stabilizing factor in the region and King Abdullah’s efforts, and in hosting Syrian refugees, and stressed that the stability, security, prosperity and resilience of Jordan are important factors that are reflected in the stability and prosperity of the region, expressing the bloc’s commitment and support to its partnership with Jordan, especially in the stage of economic recovery.
The two sides also discussed the European aid program to Jordan for 2021-2024 within the framework of the European Union’s support for 2021-2027.
In the meeting, the European Commissioner announced the EU’s commitment to provide financial aid from 2021 grants, amounting to 164 million euros, which will support priority bilateral programs in enhancing the role of the green economy, supporting the rule of law, allocating a grant to the national water carrier, and supporting interventions to respond to the Syrian crisis repercussions.
Varhelyi announced that the European aid package of grants that the bloc’s is committed to providing to Jordan for 2021-2024 will not be less than 164 million euros annually, and the EU will provide additional annual grants of no less than 80 million euros to support Jordan in responding to the Syrian crisis.
He added that the European Union will continue to assist Jordan and support it in bearing the burden of hosting Syrian refugees.
Source: Jordan News Agency