Chatzisavas: Jordan–EU relations are at their strongest
EU seeks to boost investment and trade exchange with Jordan
€3 billion support package under the new strategic partnership
National Water Carrier is a strategic project to enhance water independence
Construction expected to begin this summer
300 million cubic metres of desalinated water annually by 2030
European consortium to implement the project with advanced technology
EU supports improving water sector governance and reducing losses
Six wastewater treatment plants in Jordan backed by European funding
€400 million concessional loan to strengthen the water system
Jordan among the world’s most water-scarce countries, strategic solutions essential
Desalination and treated water key to Jordan’s future water security
Project to reduce reliance on non-renewable sources such as Disi water
Renewable energy a core component in operating the National Water Carrier
European support aims to keep water affordable for citizens
Call to conserve water: every drop is precious
EU reaffirms commitment as a reliable partner to Jordan

 The European Union Ambassador to Jordan, Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas, announced that the EU and its member states have allocated a total of €1.6 billion to support the National Water Carrier project, the largest infrastructure project in the history of Jordan and the region. The funding is divided into €600 million in grants and loans to the Jordanian government, and €1 billion in concessional loans to the project company.

In an exclusive interview with AmmanNet / Radio Al-Balad, the ambassador revealed that construction works are imminent, expecting them to begin this summer, with completion anticipated within three to four years. The project is set to produce 300 million cubic metres of desalinated water annually by 2030.

He explained that this support falls within a broader €3 billion package announced under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed between the EU and Jordan during His Majesty King Abdullah II’s visit to Brussels in January 2025.

He added that a European consortium has already been selected to implement the project, meaning European industry and technology will contribute to building the desalination facility in Aqaba and the 450-kilometre pipeline extending to the north of the Kingdom.

Interview transcript:

How do you view the relationship between Jordan and the European Union at this stage?
Ambassador: Relations between Jordan and the European Union, between Jordanians and Europeans, are at their best. We have recently made tangible progress at both the diplomatic and political levels. However, we are also seeking to elevate trade relations between Europe and Jordan and increase European investment in the Kingdom. We want to work more closely together.

Is there an agreement governing this relationship?

Ambassador: The political agreement, the legal framework governing our relationship, is an older agreement known as the “Association Agreement.” However, we reviewed it last year during His Majesty’s latest visit to Brussels in January 2025. We adopted what we call the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” which includes a set of new priorities and objectives across multiple areas: political and military affairs, development cooperation, social affairs, as well as investment and trade, with the aim of making additional efforts and raising the level of ambition.

What is the scale of EU support for this project so far, and what are its main forms?

Ambassador: What we announced last year under this Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is a €3 billion support package. Regarding the water sector specifically, which is the focus of our discussion today, we have a long history of cooperation in this field. For example, the EU is currently supporting the government in building six wastewater treatment plants across the Kingdom.

We are also deeply engaged in the overall governance of the water sector. In cooperation with the European Investment Bank, we launched a support package consisting of a highly concessional €400 million loan, which is currently being implemented. Yes, it is a direct loan to the Jordanian government tied to a set of indicators. Our aim is to help our Jordanian partners build an integrated water sector system that meets the highest standards, without revenue losses, and with a transition toward the use of greywater and treated wastewater. This allows Jordan to achieve financial savings as well as water savings. As you know, water scarcity in Jordan is extremely severe, and the country is likely ranked second globally among the most water-poor nations.

For this reason, the authorities place great importance on the use of freshwater, future desalination, water from regional partners in the north and west, and of course the use of treated wastewater for agricultural purposes.

What is the importance of supporting this project for Jordan, and what does it represent for the EU?

Ambassador: The National Water Carrier project, the desalination plant and the 450-kilometre pipeline transporting water from Aqaba on the Red Sea to the northern part of the Kingdom, along with pumping stations, treatment facilities, and related infrastructure, is a massive project by all standards. It is no surprise that it has taken years in the design phase, the formation of the consortium, and the selection of contractors. Now we are approaching the decision point and project launch, possibly this summer. Construction will proceed over three to four years, resulting in a project capable of producing 300 million cubic metres annually by 2030. Jordan will thus have one of the largest desalination and water projects in the region.

It is a massive project in both nature and cost, and here the EU plays a role in making it feasible. Any project of this scale has a significant impact on any country, and for Jordan it is a major investment, but at the same time a strategic investment in water independence for decades to come, something we take very seriously.

We are very pleased that the selected consortium is European, meaning we contribute European industry, technology, and expertise, in addition to the EU’s own financial contribution through multiple channels.

First, we mobilised grants and loans to support the government, amounting to approximately €600 million as part of “Team Europe.” The EU alone provided around €100 million in grants and €300 million in loans to the government.

In addition, we are providing a concessional loan, one we guarantee, meaning it comes at a cost to us, which we have ensured is as favourable as possible. This loan amounts to €400 million for the project company, referred to as equity participation.

Overall, including the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and others, the total contribution amounts to €600 million in grants and loans to the government and €1 billion in concessional loans to the project company. This is the contribution of the EU and its member states to this massive project.

Will this project help solve Jordan’s drinking water crisis?

Ambassador: Yes, that is exactly the goal. This is why it is extremely important and why everyone is ready to make the extra effort to achieve it. It is about reducing Jordan’s reliance on other suppliers and ensuring a transition away from dependence on surface water resources, such as the Disi project, which the EU also supported significantly through a solar power plant, the pipeline, and participation of European companies in its operation and management. Disi is located on the border with Saudi Arabia and consists of fossil water that cannot be renewed. Therefore, the strategic future investment lies in enabling Jordan to desalinate water, thereby transforming and diversifying its water sources.

When will Jordanian citizens begin to feel the real impact of European support in water supply?

Ambassador: First, I hope our Jordanian friends are already feeling the impact of our investments in the water sector today, before tomorrow. As I mentioned, we have a long history of cooperation in this vital sector. Support for wastewater treatment plants as infrastructure, governance support to ensure water prices remain affordable for ordinary consumers, efforts to reduce losses, theft, and misuse, and enabling Jordan to maximise its resources through investment in wastewater treatment, all of this I hope is already tangible on the ground.

As for tomorrow, they will certainly feel it. This National Water Carrier project is one we strongly support. As I said, we are pleased that a European consortium has been selected, bringing European standards to the project, not only in desalination but also in the large-scale use of renewable energy. We hope it will make a real difference in Jordan’s strategic independence and its ability to produce its own water at a cost affordable to ordinary citizens.

What message would you like to convey to Jordanian citizens regarding water?

Ambassador: This is a campaign we pursue within the EU and with partner countries like Jordan: water is an extremely scarce resource. Population growth and climate change make it more valuable every day. Every drop of water is like gold, and we must preserve it and make the best possible use of it.

Returning to your first question about Jordan–EU relations, I would say that my goal and the goal of this mission is to deliver a strong message of friendship and solidarity to the Jordanian people. We want Jordanians to know that we stand by them, and we want Jordan to know it can rely on us, on the European Union as a dependable and steadfast partner.