(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2016)0431),

–  having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 212 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C8-0242/2016),

–  having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–  having regard to the Joint Declaration of the European Parliament and of the Council adopted together with Decision No 778/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 August 2013 providing further macro-financial assistance to Georgia(1),

–  having regard to the letter from the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the letter from the Committee on Budgets,

–  having regard to the undertaking given by the Council representative by letter of 4 November 2016 to approve Parliament’s position, in accordance with Article 294(4) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–  having regard to Rule 59 of its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to the report of the Committee on International Trade (A8-0296/2016),

1.  Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;

2.  Approves the joint statement by Parliament, the Council and the Commission annexed to this resolution;

3.  Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it intends to amend its proposal substantially or replace it with another text;

4.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

(1) OJ L 218, 14.8.2013, p. 15.

(As an agreement was reached between Parliament and Council, Parliament's position corresponds to the final legislative act, Decision (EU) 2016/2371.)

Joint Statement by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission

In light of the fiscal challenges and extraordinary circumstances Jordan faces as a result of hosting more than 1,3 million Syrians, the Commission will in 2017, if appropriate, submit a new proposal for extending and increasing MFA to Jordan, upon the successful conclusion of the second MFA and provided that the usual preconditions for this type of assistance, including an updated assessment by the Commission of Jordan's external financing needs, are met. This critical assistance for Jordan would help the country maintain macroeconomic stability while also preserving development gains and continuing with the country’s reform agenda.