Jordan, Spain agree to ‘unify’ position during upcoming Brussels conference

AMMAN — Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury on Tuesday met with Spanish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ildefonso Castro López and agreed to “unify” the two countries’ positions during the upcoming Brussels conference on refugees to be held in April, a Planning Ministry statement said.

Fakhoury stressed the importance of revisiting the EU’s decision to simplify the rules of origin for Jordanian exports to EU countries to harmonise with the Kingdom’s plans to support Jordanian industrialists, attract investments and create jobs.

He also outlined the national economic situation and the economic and social challenges the Kingdom is facing due to regional turmoil and hosting large numbers of Syrian refugees, citing “the Jordanian model” in dealing with these challenges.

The planning minister stressed the new economic and social burdens on the state budget, affecting the provision of key services to the host communities in the sectors of education, health and water, among others.

The minister highlighted the importance of the international community’s commitment to maintain the momentum of support for Jordan, especially the Jordan Response Plan 2018-2022, through sufficient grants and concessional financing.

For his part, the Spanish minister praised Jordan’s role in addressing the Syrian refugees’ crisis, commending His Majesty King Abdullah’s efforts in achieving peace, security, and prosperity in the region and fighting terrorism.

He commended the Jordanian-Spanish ties and stressed his country’s commitment to supporting Jordan in preserving its economic resilience to overcome the challenges stemming from regional conflicts.