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

An overwhelming majority (86%) of Jordanians feel their country has good relations with the European Union, and 77% say that the EU has a positive influence on the development in the country, with 69% 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 eight southern Mediterranean partner countries – was conducted in Jordan in June and July 2020, 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, including in supporting their country’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. 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.

Asked to describe relations with the EU, 86% said they were good, well above the average of 67% in the Mashrek (59% in the Maghreb). Seventy per cent of those asked saw the EU as an important partner, with sufficient common values to cooperate (69%); another 77% felt EU support had a positive influence on the development of Jordan. Seventy per cent of Jordanians knew that the EU granted their country with financial support, and 69% said EU financial support was effective.

In more general terms, 48% of those asked had a positive image of the EU, compared to the Mashrek average of 47% (Maghreb 45%), while 28% had a neutral image and just 17% a negative image. The values most frequently associated with the EU were individual freedom, equality between men and women and democracy; those least associated with the EU were absence of corruption, honesty and respect for other cultures.

Jordanians feel EU support has contributed the most in the areas of education (43%), health (36%), and tourism (32%) and are keen for the EU to play an even greater role in health and trade. When asked about the support provided by the EU to their country during the Coronavirus pandemic, citizens in Jordan answered that it had been effective (78%).

In general, Jordanians think that the European Union’s image in their national media is positive. On websites, fifty-four per cent of them believe that the image is very to fairly positive, while only eight per cent believe it to be very to fairly negative. Websites are preceded by television (58% positive, 27% neutral, 6% negative) and followed by the printed press (39% positive, 28% neutral, 9% negative).

Jordanians are generally satisfied with their lives (74%, compared to an average of 61% for the Mashrek, and 60% for the Maghreb). But they are worried about the economic situation in their country (61% feel it is bad, compared to 67% in the region). 50% think their life in general will get better (15% think it will get worse), while 60% think that the financial situation of their household is already good.

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

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