During his visit to Jordan, Gert-Jan Koopman, Director-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, met with the Jordanian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Zeina Touqan. They signed two financing agreements to support reforms in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and on Cultural Heritage, in alignment with Jordan’s “Economic Modernisation Vision“ on June 2.
The first programme—EUR 15 million—will help Jordan enhance youth employment by providing TVET graduates with the skills and competencies necessary for the country’s economic modernisation. Thus, they will be more competitive in the labour market and address the skills gap identified by the private sector.
This support package also includes a scholarship programme targeting the most vulnerable segments of the population. This programme allows underprivileged students to pursue technical and vocational education as a contribution to the “Labour Market Oriented Vocational Education, Higher Education and Training (MOVE-HET)” program, co-financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The second programme -EUR 10 million- will help Jordan rehabilitate two major archaeological sites, Quwaylebah (Abila) and Mekawer/Machaerus. In doing so, the EU, in a collaborative effort with the Italian Agency for Development and Cooperation (AICS) and civil society organisations, will involve local communities to sustain the tourism sector. This inclusive approach ensures that the local communities are part of the process, fostering a sense of shared responsibility for the preservation of Jordan’s cultural heritage.
Minister Touqan stated that the EU is one of Jordan’s development partners supporting the development and reform priorities in the Kingdom, and she discussed the progress of work and achievements in the modernisation and reform efforts that Jordan is moving forward with.
“Through those two new programmes, the EU reaffirms its unwavering commitment to supporting Jordan’s economic and social development. We will continue to support Jordan in developing the skills of its youth while preserving its great heritage and making full use of the potential of its tourism industry,“ Gert-Jan Koopman stated.
The Director-General also mentioned the EU’s long-standing partnership in support of the TVET sector in Jordan. This complements the broader ongoing EU education portfolio of EUR 165 million in the country, including strategic support to the Ministry of Education and scholarship opportunities for Jordanian and Syrian beneficiaries.
