On 7 May 2026, EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi signed three new financing agreements worth EUR 135 million with Jordan, covering security and defence, human capital development, and migration and refugee support. The agreements were signed in Amman alongside Jordanian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Toukan, marking a concrete step in implementing the EU-Jordan Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership signed in January 2025.
The EUR 25 million agreement on Integrated Border Management and Internal Security aims to strengthen cooperation on border governance and tackling cross-border threats. A EUR 30 million investment in Human Capital Development underscores the EU's commitment to education and youth, with the Commissioner inaugurating a secondary school during the visit. An additional EUR 80 million was allocated for migration, protection, and refugee support, continuing the EU's long-standing solidarity with Jordan's efforts to host Syrian refugees. The Commissioner also announced a loan of up to EUR 12.3 million, together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, to expand the data centre capacity of the Aqaba Digital Hub, highlighting EU-Jordan tech and connectivity cooperation.
These announcements build on a series of recent milestones in EU-Jordan relations. In January 2026, the first EU-Jordan Summit in Amman confirmed the strength of the partnership, following the signing of the Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership in Brussels in January 2025. The Commissioner noted that the EU is also finalising discussions on a Multi Sector Budget Support package worth EUR 110 million, aimed at improving the business environment and connecting skills to labour market needs, and hopes to conclude talks on a new EUR 500 million Macro-Financial Assistance package.
On refugee support, the Commissioner emphasised that over the past decade the EU has committed over EUR 600 million in Jordan for the Syrian refugee crisis. A Special Measure package for 2026-2027, amounting to EUR 160 million, is currently being prepared to support refugees and host communities with access to health and education. The EU also aims to organise the first EU-Jordan Investment Conference this year to promote private sector engagement, though it was postponed due to regional developments.
The visit also touched on broader regional cooperation. Last month, the EU launched the first Action Plan of the Pact for the Mediterranean, with Jordan playing a substantive role in shaping it. The Commissioner expressed commitment to supporting recovery and reconstruction in Syria, where Jordan can play a meaningful role.
Stakeholder impact: The agreements provide direct financial support to Jordanian national authorities, particularly in border management and refugee services, while EU producers and investors may benefit from improved business environment and investment opportunities under the planned budget support and investment conference. EU consumers are indirectly affected through enhanced regional stability, though no immediate consumer impact is expected. The focus on human capital development and digital infrastructure may boost Jordan's long-term economic resilience, but the effectiveness of the measures depends on implementation and private sector engagement.