COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Wednesday, 15 October 2025

● Council of the EU   15/10/2025 13:34 | Press release | Jordan: Council adopts negotiating position for EU assistance of €500 million in loans   The Council today decided on its position for negotiations with the European Parliament regarding the provision of a further €500 million in macro-financial assistance (MFA) to Jordan. The EU assistance will help bolster Jordan’s economic stability and support its ongoing reform agenda in the face of mounting internal and external challenges. It aims to support the restoration of a sustainable external financing situation for the country, thereby supporting its economic and social development. The assistance, provided in response to Jordan’s request for additional support in January 2025, will be available for two and a half years and provided in the form of long-term loans, disbursed in three instalments. The EU has provided Jordan with €1.08 billion under three previous MFA programmes since 2013. A fourth MFA programme is currently underway, with a first instalment of €250 million disbursed on 17 September 2025. The funds continue to support key reforms in public finance management, social and labour policy, and governance. Further support under strict conditions The assistance is subject to a memorandum of understanding (MoU), to be agreed by Jordan with the Commission. Disbursement of instalments will be strictly linked to Jordan’s progress with the reforms outlined in that MoU. Jordan must also respect democratic mechanisms, the rule of law, and human rights throughout the programme's duration. The Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) will monitor the fulfilment of this precondition for the duration of the macro-financial assistance. Background Jordan continues to face high unemployment, chronic external deficits, and rising public debt which reached 90.4% of GDP in 2024. Regional instability in the Middle East has further strained Jordan’s public finances and trade balances. The EU and Jordan have been linked by an Association Agreement since 2002. In 2022, they signed the partnership priorities, which aim to strengthen cooperation further and will guide the partnership until 2027. The EU's support to Jordan assists the country in mitigating the impact of the war in Syria and the resulting large number of refugees as well as the impact of other regional conflicts, including the war in Gaza. MFA is a form of financial aid extended by the EU to partner countries experiencing a balance of payments crisis. It is available to enlargement and EU neighbourhood countries experiencing severe balance-of-payments problems. The implementation of the proposed operation is further complemented by EU bilateral cooperation under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument - Global Europe (NDICI-GE). Council decision on macro-financial assistance to Jordan, 15 October 2025 EU’s Macro-Financial Assistance (European Commission) EU-Jordan Partnership Priorities (Jordan-EU Association Council, 2 June 2022) Jordan: Council adopts decision to provide EU assistance of €500 million in loans (press release, 14 April 2025)   Visit the website

● Council of the EU

15/10/2025 10:27 | Media advisory | Press briefing - Foreign Affairs Council of 20 October 2025   The press briefing ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council will take place on Friday, 17 October 2025 at 14.30. This press briefing will be 'off the record' and will be given by a senior EEAS official in a hybrid format: EU accredited journalists will be able to participate and ask questions either remotely or in person at the Europa building press room. To attend the event remotely, please use this link to register and have the possibility to ask questions. Those who already registered for previous press events of the Foreign Affairs Council do not need to do it again. Deadline for registration: Friday, 17 October 2025, 13.30 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline.   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   15/10/2025 12:01 | Media advisory | Media advisory - Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council of 17 October 2025   Indicative programme All times are approximate and subject to change Place: ECCL Luxembourg Chairs: - Magnus Heunicke, Minister for Environment and Gender Equality - Sophie Haestorp Andersen, Minister for Social Affairs and Housing Employment and social policy, Friday 17 October From 09.00 Arrivals (live streaming) +/- 09.15 Doorsteps by Ministers Magnus Heunicke and Sophie Haestorp Andersen (live streaming) 10.00 Beginning of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Employment and social policy) Adoption of the agenda Approval of "A" items: Non-legislative list Legislative list (public session) +/- 10.10 Conclusions on violence against women and domestic violence: prevention, early detection and intervention (public session)  +/- 10.20 Combating hate, discrimination and violence against LGBTIQ persons (public session) +/- 12.00 Any other business: - Gender Equality Index, including thematic focus on gender stereotypes (public session)  - High-level conferences: Equality policy (+/- 12.25 public session) +/- 12.30 Working lunch debate on ‘Combating sexual violence and promoting consent in sexual relationships’ +/- 14.00 Any other business: - Presidency event - Informal meeting of Employment and Social affairs Ministers (Aalborg, 7-8 July 2025) (public session) - Presidency event - High-level conferences: Social policy (+/- 14.05 public session) +/- 14.10 Conclusions on the social inclusion of persons with disabilities through the promotion of independent living (public session) +/- 14.20 Advancing disability rights in the EU: challenges, progress and future directions (public session) +/- 16.00 Any other business: - Annual report on simplification, implementation and enforcement (public session) - Initiative for a European Day of Sign Languages (+/- 16.15 public session) At the end of the meeting (+/- 16.30), press conference in live streaming. Arrangements for the press conference The press conference will take place in a hybrid format: EU accredited journalists will be able to participate and ask questions either remotely or in person at the ECCL Luxembourg press room. To attend the event remotely, please use this link to register and have the possibility to ask questions. Those who already registered for previous press events of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council do not need to do it again. Deadline for registration: Friday, 17 October 2025, 15.30 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. Videos and photos from the event     Visit the website ● Council of the EU   15/10/2025 09:27 | Media advisory | Press briefing - General Affairs Council of 21 October 2025   The press briefing ahead of the General Affairs Council will take place on Thursday, 16 October 2025 at 11.15. This briefing will be "off the record". The press briefing will take place in a hybrid format: EU accredited journalists will be able to participate and ask questions either remotely or in person at the Europa building press room. To attend the event remotely, please use the link below to register and have the possibility to ask questions. Those who already registered for previous press events of the General Affairs Council do not need to do it again. Deadline for registration: Thursday, 16 October 2025 at 10.15 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. Registration page Media accreditation for journalists   Visit the website ● Council of the EU   14/10/2025 19:22 | Meetings | Foreign Affairs Council (Defence), 15 October 2025   Background brief - Foreign Affairs Council (Defence) of 15 October 2025   View meeting page ● Council of the EU   14/10/2025 19:22 | Meetings | Foreign Affairs Council (Defence), 15 October 2025   Background brief - Foreign Affairs Council (Defence) of 15 October 2025   View meeting page