BRUSSELS — The European Union (EU)
Spokesperson for the Middle East and South Africa, Luis Miguel Bueno, stated
that Jordan plays a crucial humanitarian role in the war on the Gaza Strip,
adding that the air drop operations conducted by Jordan to aid Gaza residents
send a clear message to all parties involved, including Israel, about Jordan's
concern for the situation in Gaza on both humanitarian and political fronts,
Al-Mamlaka TV reported.
اضافة اعلان
During an interview, Bueno commended Jordan
for its efforts in conducting air drops to assist civilians in the strip. He
noted that the EU provides funding and actively participates in relief efforts
for the people of Gaza, adding that the EU has implemented an air bridge to
send humanitarian supplies to the Egyptian city of El-Arish, which is in close
proximity to Gaza, with over 40 flights already dispatched by the Union.
Bueno described these aids as 'a drop in
the ocean,' emphasizing their limited impact relative to the vast needs in
Gaza. He reiterated the call on the Israeli government to reopen the land
crossings, including those in the north and the port of Ashdod, in addition to
the Karem Abu Salem and Rafah crossings, arguing that this would provide safe
passages for delivering aid to the displaced population in Gaza.
Furthermore, Bueno reaffirmed the EU’s
stance, stating that it 'completely rejects' any siege imposed on Gaza. He
emphasized the need for an accessible and transparent route to deliver aid to
those in need. Bueno pointed out that the entire population of the Strip,
representing 100 percent, is enduring severe food insecurity and famine,
highlighting the urgent necessity of providing assistance to alleviate their
plight.
He reiterated that the EU acknowledges
Jordan's frontline position in the war on Gaza, highlighting the country's
significant role. Bueno emphasized that this warrants robust and sustained
support from both the Union and European countries to address Jordan's needs
arising from the consequences of the war, whether in financial or humanitarian
aspects.
Additionally, Bueno expressed anticipation
for increased humanitarian cooperation from European countries towards Jordan,
particularly concerning the provision of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.
Jordan
and EU’s ‘special’ partnership
The EU spokesperson highlighted the
‘special’ partnership between Jordan and the EU, citing mutual visits,
including His Majesty King Abdullah’s visit to Brussels in November 2023, and
ongoing meetings between foreign policy officials.
He noted
that meetings held by the European Commission resulted in announcing a support
package of at least 900 million euros for Jordan, spanning several years. This
aid aims to bolster various sectors, including agriculture, youth skills
development, job creation, and energy efficiency, with the EU announcing a new
aid package worth 902 million euros in 2023.
Bueno explained that these initiatives seek
to attract external investments, particularly from Europe, to strengthen
economic, financial, and cultural ties between Jordan and the EU. He reiterated
the EU's commitment to supporting Jordan in implementing administrative and
political reforms directed by His Majesty’s government.
Both Jordan and the EU emphasized the
robustness of their partnership and expressed readiness to enhance cooperation
in political, security, trade, and cooperative issues. The EU commended
Jordan's significant role in hosting a large number of refugees, especially
from Syria, reaffirming its dedication to supporting refugees and host
communities in the Kingdom.
In June 2020, the priorities of the
partnership between the EU and Jordan for 2021-2027 were announced and signed
during the fourteenth meeting of the partnership council between the two
entities in the Dead Sea. The subsequent fourteenth meeting in June 2022, held
at the Dead Sea, marked the first meeting in a partner country of the Union,
where both parties adopted the partnership priorities for 2021-2027.
Official statistics revealed that the value
of goods trade between Jordan and the EU surged by over 70 percent between 2002
and 2022, reaching 4.8 billion euros by the end of 2022.
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