Overview on EU-Jordan Cooperation

Background:

Jordan and EU enjoy a strategic partnership in the context of the Euro-Med Partnership of the Barcelona Process and European Neighbourhood Policy ENP, a partnership that significantly contributed to advancing both sides relations not only on a bilateral level, but also on the regional front.
Jordan and the EU adopted in 2016 the Partnership Priorities (PP) for the three years 2016-2018 including the EU-Jordan Compact.
The Partnership Priorities provide a robust framework for expanding EU-Jordan cooperation in key priority areas: (i) strengthening cooperation on regional stability, security including counter-terrorism; (ii) promoting economic stability, sustainable and knowledge-based growth, quality education and job creation; and (iii) strengthening democratic governance, the rule of law and human rights.
The EU-Jordan Compact includes a set of commitments on both sides in the following areas: (i) Enhancing macroeconomic stability; (ii) private sector development, business climate, trade and investment, job creation; (iii) quality education and training for social inclusion and development; (iv) sustainable use and management of natural resources; (v) strengthening cooperation on stability and security including counter-terrorism; (vi) well-managed refugee, migration and mobility policies; and (vii) justice and political reform, democratic elections and human rights.

Rules of Origin

A 10-year Joint decision on the simplified rules of origin with the EU was reached in July 2017.

EU Assistance to Jordan

EU is a key partner in Jordan’s development process.
Over many years, EU’s support has significantly contributed to the country’s efforts in the areas of :
Fiscal and public finance reforms and macroeconomic stability.
Trade and investment enhancement;
Private sector development;
Institutional and capacity building;
Support key sectors of joint interest such as local development, E-TVET, water and wastewater, microfinance, renewable energy, research and education and higher education, justice, security and health.
Jordan and the EU have signed a joint declaration on 18 Dec. 2017 on the new programming cycle for 2017-2020 “Single Support Framework (SFF)” which builds on the Partnership Priorities reached in 2016.
SSF key priorities are (1) enhancing Jordan’ Social and Economic Development; (2) strengthening the Rule of Law; (3) upgrading Border Management and preventing Violent Extremism; and (4) complementary Support (capacity building, civil society and climate change mitigation).
Indicative allocation will range between Euro 335.5-410.1 million over 2017-2020.
Jordan also reaffirms the significance of the EU’s capacity and institutional building tools (Twining, TAIEX, Sigma and TA projects) towards achieving the aspired harmonization and approximation with the EU norms and standards in a view of bringing Jordan closer to the EU, and underscores the significance of these tools in the implementation of Association Agreement and the Partnership Priorities.

EU Additional Assistance to mitigate the impact of Syrians influx (2013-2016):

EU pledged at the London Conference in February 2016 was Euro 1 billion for Jordan and Lebanon for 2016 and 2017.
After the London Conference and as per the endorsed EU Jordan Compact (reached in July 2016), EU pledged to provide Jordan over 2016-2017 a minimum new funding of Euro 747 million to deal with the impact of the Syrian Crisis including humanitarian assistance and Euro 200 million of the Macro Financial Assistance-MFA.
The European Union Member states and European Commission have reconfirmed pledges to the region at Brussels conference “Supporting the future of Syria and the region” on 5 April 2017 in the total amount of Euro 6.03 billion over 2017-2020 in addition to loans in amount of Euro 306 million.

EU-Jordan Policy Dialogue

EU and Jordan acknowledge the importance of continuing the sectoral dialogue in the context of the implementation of the Association Agreement and the European Neighbourhood Policy, in addition to tackling important aspects of the EU-Jordan partnership. To this end, both sides keep regular dialogue under three thematic groups: (1) Economic stability, sustainable and knowledge-based growth, quality education and job creation; (2) Regional stability, security including counter-terrorism and (3) democratic governance, rule of law and human rights. The dialogue covers a number of key areas of common interest, namely, Agriculture and Fisheries; Human Rights; Customs; Social Affairs, Justice and Security; Trade, Servicers and Industry; Internal Market; Transport, Energy and Environment; Research and Information Society and Regional Cooperation.

Mobility Partnership

Jordan and the EU signed the Joint Declaration establishing a Mobility Partnership between Jordan and the EU and the participating Member States in October 2014. The Mobility Partnership sets a set of political objectives and identifies a number of areas in which further dialogue and cooperation between the EU and Jordan will continue in order to ensure that the movement of persons is managed as effectively as possible.
EU has extended a grant in the amount of Euro 2.5 million to the project “Support to the Mobility Partnership between Jordan and the European Union”, which has two components expatriates and prevention of human trafficking.

Union for the Mediterranean

Jordan continues to perceive the UfM as an important platform among 43 partners for policy dialogue and drawing up regional project of strategic significance in the context of the priority areas identified by the Paris Summit Declaration in 2008. As co-presidency, Jordan has been doing its utmost to move forward towards achieving the agreed objectives of the UfM. Jordan has also worked hard to create new bridges of cooperation and succeeded in organizing many operational, ad-hoc and ministerial meetings in various fields ranging from business development, social and civil affairs, higher education and research, environment, urban development, to water, energy and transport.
The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is an intergovernmental organisation bringing together the 28 European Union Member States and 15 countries from the Southern and Eastern shores of the Mediterranean. It provides a unique forum to enhance regional cooperation and dialogue in the Euro-Mediterranean region. Foreign Affairs Ministers in Marseille decided that the League of Arab States shall participate in all meetings at all levels of the Union for the Mediterranean.
Projects and initiatives are implemented within the framework of the UfM in six strategic priority areas which are

Click here to Display the Business Development.
Click here to Display the Transport And Urban Development.
Energy and climate action.
Click here to Display the Water And Environment.
Click here to Display the Higher Education And Research.
Click here to Display the Social And Civil Affairs.

EU External Investment Plan EIP

The EIP was designed to boost investments and support more inclusive and sustainable development in the European Neighbourhood and Africa. It aims at mobilising a large volume of investments (especially from the private sector) to fulfil economic and social development in EU partner countries. It relies on business and investment climate improvements in these countries, and is therefore based on close cooperation with entrusted financial institutions and reinforced dialogue. Under the EIP it is expected that the EU will mobilise a contribution of Euro 4.1 billion that will leverage up to Euro 44 billion of investments from public and private sector from 2017 until 2020.
initial sectors to be covered by the EIP include: sustainable energy and connectivity, MSMEs, agriculture, sustainable cities and digitalisation.