EU to help boost air quality in Jordan

The European Commission (EC) has revealed it will make €71 million (£61.9 million) available to Jordan in order to help the country achieve its ambitious air quality targets.

EU leaders have confirmed the Middle Eastern nation's energy sector will receive the lion's share of the fund (€35 million), while the rest will be spent on improving education and establishing closer links between the country and Europe.

Ministers in Jordan want to see a 20 per cent reduction in power consumption by 2020 and the EU money will go towards the setting up of renewable energy sources.

EU commissioner for enlargement and neighbourhood policy Stefan Fule said this is an "impressive target".

"This new EC support will focus on two areas, which I believe are vitally important for a country's growth - education and energy," he remarked.

The EC also confirmed it would set aside €1.4 million to help 680 redundant shoe workers in Portugal find new jobs as part of the EU Globalisation Adjustment Fund.

Posted by Claire Manning