17/12/2018 (Agence Europe) – On 12 December, the EU and Jordan adopted a decision to extend the trade regime facilitating exports to the EU by Jordanian companies employing Syrian refugees. This decision extends the scope of an agreement in force since July 2016, which allows Jordanian products to benefit from more flexible rules of origin under certain conditions (see EUROPE 11599). The program will now apply to the entire Jordanian territory until 2030. It can be used by any Jordanian exporting company, provided that 60,000 Syrian refugees are legally employed. This initiative should stimulate investment, which should benefit not only the refugee population but also Jordanians. Since 2011, the EU has mobilised more than €2 billion in financial assistance to Jordan, including €1.2 billion to help the country cope with the consequences of the Syrian crisis. (HD)