EU signs 200 mln euro loan deal with Jordan

BRUSSELS, Sept 19 (KUNA) -- Jordan will receive a 200 million euro (USD 239 mmillion) medium-term loan from the European Union (EU) to help the country mitigate economic and social impacts caused by regional conflicts coupled with the influx of Syrian refugees, the EU said on Tuesday.
A statement by the European Commission said that Pierre Moscovici, EU Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, signed the agreement on behalf of the EU for a Macro-Financial Assistance Programme.
This is the second programme Jordan receives following a 180 million euro (USD 215 million) loan approved in 2013 and fully disbursed two years later, the statement noted.
"Jordan's economy and public finances have been strongly affected by the war in Syria and the protracted refugee crisis and the EU stands by Jordan in these very difficult times," Moscovici said.
The agreement signed today provides further important support for Jordan's efforts to preserve macroeconomic stability and reform its economy," he added. (end) nk.nam