AMMAN — High Representative of the EU for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy, European Commission Vice-President, Josep Borrell
has affirmed that Jordan is an important partner for the EU and an anchor of
stability in a turbulent..
اضافة اعلان
In an interview with Jordan News Agency (Petra) on the sidelines of the second
Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership, which was held in the Dead
Sea region on Tuesday, Borrell stated "our ties go beyond our close
bilateral partnership and cooperation, Jordan is for the EU an important and
reliable partner with whom we do not only engage a lot in bilateral relations.
Jordan is a partner of choice when dealing with wider regional issues."
Speaking about the second Baghdad Conference, he indicated that the first
Baghdad Conference took place in the Iraqi capital and marked the return of
Iraq to the international stage as an important and active regional player,
noting that holding the second conference in the neighboring Jordan underlines
the role and responsible engagement of Jordan for the regional stability and
security.
"The topics discussed here are relevant not only for Iraq but for the
entire region: the country’s stability, its development and prosperity, as well
as regional cooperation, fight against terrorism, increasing food and energy
security or working on the issue of water management," he pointed out,
stressing that Jordan plays an active and crucial role in all of them.
On the partnership between the EU and Jordan, he said "In June, we held
our 14th EU-Jordan Association Council in Amman for the first time outside of
Brussels, which is an important sign. But beyond the symbolism of this, we also
defined our new Partnership Priorities, making Jordan a key country in our Southern
Neighborhood, working on a new and ambitious strategic and forward-looking
partnership with the EU."
"Before the Russian aggression against Ukraine, our key priorities with
Jordan were strengthening cooperation on regional stability and security; promoting
sustainable economic growth, and strengthening good governance and respect for
human rights. This still holds, now, we also focus on working for upholding the
rules-based system and dealing with the hugely damaging consequences of Putin’s
war on food and energy security in Jordan, the entire Middle East, and the
whole world," the envoy further stated.
Besides the Partnership Priorities, Borrell emphasized that the cornerstone of
the EU partnership with Jordan remains democratic principles, fundamental
freedoms, and human rights, adding that the EU and the Kingdom work closely on
regional integration, renewable energy development, as well as energy
efficiency and sustainable management of water resources in Jordan.
The high representative also indicated that the Russian-Ukrainian war caused
the most serious case of food insecurity in decades, adding "under the
Team Europe Response to Global Food Insecurity, the EU is supporting UN-led
efforts to address the current situation and working with our partners to
promote sustainable alternative solutions in the medium and longer term."
The EU is also supporting the most vulnerable countries in the region with EUR
225 million under the "Food and Resilience Facility" from which EUR
25 Million were designated for Jordan, he highlighted, noting that "the
European Investment Bank signed, only 2 days ago, the financing agreement for a
200 MEUR loan for the Aqaba-Amman Water Desalination and Conveyance Project (an
EU Flagship and one of top JO Government’s investment priorities) and a 60 MEUR
credit line to Jordan Kuwait Bank to strengthen financing to local SMEs and
businesses. These are concrete examples of our joint efforts to support the
efforts of Jordan to address current challenges, mitigate climate change and enhance
private sector development and job creation."
Regarding Jordan's reform agenda, Borrell stated "we closely follow the
ongoing efforts to implement a wide range of reforms and Jordan has our strong
support for his reform process, especially the modernization of the political
system and the economic reforms, confirming that the EU is ready to assist in
areas where our assistance can be useful and is requested.
The investment platform was finally launched during the meetings of the
Jordan-European Partnership Council, the envoy confirmed, indicating that the
EU-Jordan Investment Platform aims to boost investment in the country and it is
an important mechanism to enhance coordination between the Jordanian
government, European Financial Institutions, the EU and local and international
stakeholders.
Continuing, he said that the platform "closes the gap between Jordanian
priority investment projects and the mobilization of necessary funding for
effective implementation. It will be able to leverage up to EUR 2.5 billion of
investments, which would be a significant boost for the Jordanian
economy."
Responding to a question on Jordan's humanitarian role in receiving refugees,
the envoy stated "We are fully aware and commend Jordan’s generosity and
solidarity in hosting a large number of, inter alia Syrian and Palestinian,
refugees. We are also aware of the challenges this poses for Jordanian society
and the economy. That is why the EU is committed to continue supporting Jordan
in hosting refugees."
"Let me just recall that the EU and its Member States are the largest
donor – both for the Syrian refugees and for the host communities in the
neighboring countries of Syria, including Jordan. Over the last decade we
contributed EUR 25 billion over all," he said, adding "the EU organizes every year the Brussels conference on the future of Syria in
order to raise the necessary funds, and make the international community not
forget about the plight of the Syrian people and the generosity of the host
countries such as Jordan. Next year, we are preparing the seventh edition of
this fundraising conference in Brussels."
Speaking on the Palestinian issue, he stated "we will work with the new
Israeli government on bilateral cooperation and on regional issues, focusing on
moving forward the peace process between the Israelis and the
Palestinians," stressing that the EU is ready to support the resumption of
a meaningful peace process towards a two-State solution, on the basis of two
states - Israel and Palestine - living side by side in peace and security and
in good relations with their neighbors. For this to happen, direct negotiations
should be resumed.
"The ongoing major upsurge in violence only confirms the urgent need to
restart the meaningful political process and give people a perspective and a
genuine hope for a better future. But this is something for the parties
involved to realize and launch. We cannot force them, we can only encourage
them and this is what we continue doing," he noted.
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