On Friday 4 November, the Council announced in a press release that EU28 sherpas have endorsed, on behalf of the Council, macrofinancial aid of €200 million for Jordan.
The decision follows an agreement reached with the European Parliament at an informal meeting on 27 October. The Council stated that they agreed that the Parliament will now need to endorse the decision in first reading, and then the Council will adopt the text. MEPs are expected to discuss the aid at the 21-24 November plenary. The European Commission welcomed the sherpas’ decision.
The Council says the aid will support Jordan's economic stabilisation and a substantive reform agenda, helping to cover its balance of payments needs. It will supplement resources provided by the International Monetary Fund, which has been discussing a new support programme with Jordan. The assistance will be available for two and a half years. It will be provided in the form of loans, to be disbursed in two instalments. The loans will have a maximum average maturity of 15 years. The assistance will be subject to a memorandum of understanding (MOU), to be agreed by Jordan with the Commission. The MOU will lay down prerequisites, including respect of human rights and the rule of law.
In the light of the challenges Jordan faces in hosting more than 1.3 million Syrian refugees, the Commission will, if appropriate, make a proposal in 2017 to extend and increase the financial assistance, the Council explains. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)