Jordan and the European Union (EU) signed in the presence of Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Monday, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) related to the EU's support to Jordan over the 2014-2017 period. Under this MOU, the EU would provide Jordan with grants totaling 312-382 million euros.
The two sides also signed the first grant agreement worth 47.5 million euros under the Single Support Framework for the Support of Public Administration Reform Program. Of this, 40 million euros will be in the form of budgetary support and 6.5 million euros for complementary support (capacity building).
The program will support the specific objective of the Ministry of Finance and of the Ministry of Public Sector Development as stipulated in the comprehensive reform of Jordan's Pubic Financial Management (2014-2017) and the Government Performance Development Program 2013-2016 which aims at enhancing public services for the citizens, improving transparency and accountability and boosting performance in the public sector.
The second grant agreement worth 12 million euros under the National Indicative Program for the Support to the Action Plan Program aims to support the Jordanian administration in the implementation of the Jordan-EU Action Plan of the European Neighborhood Policy, including harmonizing domestic legislative and regulatory framework with the EU.
The MOU and the two agreements were signed on behalf of Jordan by Minister of Water and Irrigation and Acting Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Hazim Al Nasser and on behalf of the EU by the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, Stefan Fule.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour voiced his appreciation for the EU's continued support to Jordan, noting that the EU is one of the major donors of Jordan in various sectors.
"Despite the regional circumstances and the economic challenges posed by the global economic crisis and the Arab Spring, Jordan has a clear vision that has enabled it to press ahead with democracy and preserve security and stability in the country," he added.
Ensour pointed to the waves of migrants that Jordan had received over the past decades and that placed huge pressure on its already scarce resources.
Fule, on his part, said the EU was interested in supporting Jordan as it is a major partner, adding that relations between the two sides are based on solid grounds.
He also praised accomplishments made by Jordan at all levels, mainly in the area of ushering in reforms and enhancing democracy.