Jordan, EU discuss boosting partnerships, support programmes

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi on Tuesday met over means to enhance the strategic partnership between the Kingdom and the EU and the latest regional developments.

Safadi and Varhelyi reviewed the partnership and support programmes offered by the EU to Jordan, stressing the “deep-rooted” Jordanian-European partnership and great prospects to develop it in various fields, according to a ministry statement.

The two sides agreed to continue coordination to identify partnership priorities, mainly at the economic and investment levels, in a bid to overcome economic challenges and support the growth programme that is a priority for the Kingdom’s economic policies.

They also discussed support programmes, under the multiple-year programmes mechanism, as part of the Neighbourhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument. They overviewed steps necessary to increase cooperation under the partnership priority agreement for 2021-2027, which is scheduled to be signed in the upcoming period. 

Safadi praised the EU’s support to various assistance programmes, mainly those that involve providing vaccines and combating the repercussions of the pandemic. He reiterated the Kingdom’s keenness to enhance partnerships with the EU in all fields that serve bilateral ties under the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.  

They also reviewed the latest regional developments, focusing on the Palestinian cause, efforts exerted to solve regional crises and finding a political solution to the Syrian crisis and its ramifications. 

Talks during the meeting also addressed the issue of refugees that the Kingdom is hosting, highlighting the importance of aid and assistance from the international community, especially in light of the reduced international support for refugees. 

The minister commended the EU’s support to help the Kingdom shoulder the resource pressures of hosting refugees. 

Varhelyi praised the Kingdom’s role in instilling security and stability in the region, noting that Jordan is a strategic and important partner for the EU. 

He also expressed EU’s solidarity with the Kingdom in facing economic challenges, commending Jordan’s humanitarian role towards Syrian refugees and renewing the union’s commitment to supporting Jordan in alleviating the pressures of hosting refugees.