Planning minister takes part in 6th Brussels Conference

AMMAN — The sixth Brussels Conference on “Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region” witnessed the participation of a Jordanian delegation headed by Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nasser Shraideh.

The international community pledged $6.7 billion to help Syria and neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees for the years 2022 and 2023 and beyond, Shraideh said on Wednesday, according to a ministry statement.

Out of this amount, over 4.8 billion euros was pledged by the EU, and the US pledged $807 million, while international financial institutions pledged $1.8 billion in loans for 2022, the statement read.

The minister noted that the participants expressed appreciation for refugee-host countries, including Jordan, as they called on the international community to maintain support for all host communities and reiterating their countries' positions on the voluntary and safe return of Syrian refugees.

On the sidelines of the conference, Shraideh held separate meetings with a number of EU officials and participating delegations.

During a meeting with Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi, talks went over the 2021-2024 European aid programme for Jordan, as well as Jordan’s share in the 225-million-euro “Food and Resilience Facility”, as some 25 million euros was allocated to support Jordan in response to the impacts of the Ukrainian crisis.

He also met United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi over the impacts of the Syrian refugee crisis on economic sectors, notably those related to public services, infrastructure, resources and labour market.

Discussions with Slovenian Minister of State for Development Stanislav Rascan focused on the means of enhancing bilateral cooperation.

The EU officials voiced appreciation of Jordan's regional role, expressing understanding of the financial and sector-based requirements linked to hosting the refugees.

They stressed that the Syrian crisis will remain a priority on the agenda of the international community at a time the world is facing new developments related to the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.