Most Jordanians rate the relations between their country and the EU above the regional average, new poll finds

An overwhelming majority (84%) of Jordanians feel their country has good relations with the European Union, and almost two out of three say EU support contributes a lot to development in the country, with 53% saying EU financial support to the Kingdom is effective. These are just some of the findings of the latest annual opinion poll in Jordan, published by the EU Neighbours South project.

The survey – part of a wave of opinion polls carried out in seven southern Mediterranean partner countries – was conducted in Jordan in August 2018, with 1,000 people consulted in face-to-face interviews. Respondents were asked about their general perceptions of the EU and the values with which it is associated, about EU relations with their country, and the impact of EU financial support. The surveys also look at preferred sources of information, how people feel about their personal situation and the situation in their country, and their expectations for the future.

In general, Jordanians are in line in their perceptions of the EU than the regional average of the four Mashrek countries.

Asked to describe relations with the EU, 84% said they were good, well above the average of 65% in the Mashrek (74% in the Maghreb). Sixty-five per cent of those asked saw the EU as an important partner, with sufficient common values to cooperate (also 64%); another 65% felt EU support had a positive influence on the development of Jordan. Sixty-two per cent of Jordanians knew that the EU granted their country with financial support, and 53% said EU financial support was effective.

In more general terms, 42% of those asked had a positive image of the EU, compared to the Mashrek average of 45% (Maghreb 55%), while 28% had a neutral image and just 23% a negative image. The values most frequently associated with the EU were individual freedom, democracy, and equality between men and women; those least associated with the EU were absence of corruption, solidarity and honesty.

Jordanians feel EU support has contributed the most in the areas of education (35%), economic development (31%), and tourism (29%) and are keen for the EU to play an even greater role in trade and human rights.

In general, Jordanians think that the European Union’s image in their national media is positive. On television, fifty-two per cent of them believe that the image is very to fairly positive, while only ten per cent believe it to be very to fairly negative. Television is followed by websites (48% positive, 27% neutral, 10% negative) and radio (35% positive, 27% neutral, 12% negative).

Jordanians are generally satisfied with their lives (75%, compared to an average of 68% for the Mashrek, and 72% for the Maghreb). But they are worried about the economic situation in their country (71% feel it is bad, compared to 61% in the region), and 40% are afraid that it will get worse in the next 12 months. More than half also think their life in general will get better (16% think it will get worse), while 50% think the financial situation of their household will get better.

The EU Neighbours South regional overview report and factsheets are available here. 

To find out more about EU – Jordan cooperation and partnership, go here.