Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Jordan and the European Union (EU), on Wednesday, agreed on modifying and simplifying the protocol of the rules of origin for Jordanian exports, as both sides announced an aid package worth €747 million for 2016-2017.

In a joint press conference held by Prime Minister, Hani Mulki, Minister of Planning and International Development, Imad Fakhoury, and the EU Ambassador to Jordan, Andrea Fontana, the two sides launched the second program for renewable energy and energy efficiency, under which the EU provides Jordan with 90 million euros to enhance the contribution of renewable energy in the total energy mix, which is the biggest project signed in the history of the EU's support to Jordan.

Fakhoury and Montana signed the agreement of the second program for renewable energy.

The prime minister described as "as an important step at this time" the simplification of rules of origin agreement, especially as it has advantages and features of an impact on industrial production.

He also emphasized the importance of the agreement in terms of promoting, developing and upgrading specifications and standards of national industries exported to EU countries.

Fakhoury gave a briefing on the details of the simplify rules of origin agreement between Jordan and the EU as well as priorities of the partnership between the two sides.

He said Jordan and the EU agreed on the rules of origin protocol as part of the bloc's commitments made at the London Conferences on the Syrian refugee crisis.

The new scheme will cover a wide range of manufactured products and be available to producers in 18 specified industrial areas and development zones that produce 50 product groups to be exported to EU markets, the minister noted.

The new deal comes as part of the EU's Association Agreement with Jordan signed on 24 October 1997 and entered into force on 1 May 2002, after it was endorsed by European and Jordanian parliaments.

Ambassador Fontana emphasized the bloc's commitment to developing Jordan's sustainable energy sources and reduce the negative impact of conventional sources on climate change.

He added that the EU has invested more than €145 million to develop green energy use in the Kingdom, noting that this project is another important step to promote green economy initiatives, job creation and eradicate poverty. Also this support, he said, seeks to address the growing demand for energy resulting from the refugees crisis.