Water minister, EU commissioner hold press conference on EU aid to Jordan

Minister of Water and Irrigation and Acting Planning Minister Hazim Al Nasser said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the EU's assistance to Jordan during 2014-2017 aims to support efforts of the Jordanian government to achieve development and reforms.
At a press conference on Monday that the minister addressed along with the EU Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Commissioner, Stefan Fule, following the signing of the MoU, he said the aid will also help in supporting the general budget and implementing various programs and projects.
Under the agreement, the EU will provide Jordan grants ranging between 312-382 million euros during the 2014-2017 period.
The aid, he said, comes at a time when Jordan is passing through a difficult situation due to the current developments in the region and as a result of hosting a large number of Syrian refugees, who place an increasing pressure on the Kingdom's limited resources.
Fule, on his part, said the grants would help Jordan in achieving reforms by implementing programs and projects.
He said his side understands the challenges and economic hardships faced by Jordan due to the influx of Syrian refugees into the Kingdom and the burden they place on host communities, noting that the EU will not spare any effort to help Jordan to overcome the repercussions of the crisis in Syria.
The EU official also expressed appreciation for Jordan's role in ensuring stability in the region that is increasingly facing extremism and violence.