Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, stressed the importance of the 14th meeting of the Jordan-EU Association Council, as the first partnership talks since the EU establishment to be held outside its headquarters, in a partner country from the bloc’s southern neighbors.
In a joint press conference after concluding the council’s 14th meeting, Safadi, alongside the Vice President of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR/VP), Josep Borrell and the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi, announced the sides agreed to launch an investment platform to support Jordan’s economy.
Under His Majesty King Abdullah II’s directives, Safadi said Jordan will continue to work with the European Union to develop this friendship, make these relations reflect “greater” cooperation, and contribute to joint efforts to achieve security and stability in the region.
The meeting adopted a document on the Jordan-EU partnership priorities for the next five years, he said, adding that the Kingdom is the first partner country from the EU southern neighbors to complete negotiations on the document.
The council’s 14th meeting coincides with the 20th anniversary since the joint Jordanian-EU partnership agreement entered effect, he pointed out.
Safadi added: “Discussions focused on the most prominent cooperation and partnership prospects and ways to enhance them, including economic and development projects and programmes, in addition to following up on the implementation of the partnership priorities agreement, which contributes to deepening cooperation.”
Regional issues were also discussed, foremost is the Palestinian cause, he noted, stressing the need to intensify work to find a political horizon and launch serious and effective negotiations to resolve the conflict and reach real peace, warning against the continued absence of a political horizon.
Jordan and the European Union stressed the need to stop all illegal and unilateral Israeli practices that violate international law and undermine efforts to achieve peace and the chances of a two-state solution, Safadi said.
“There is no alternative to the two-state solution, and the one-state situation will lead to more conflict,” he noted.
In addition, he noted the meeting dealt with the situation in Syria, adding that Jordan hosts approximately 1.3 million Syrian refugees, stressing the importance of partnership with the international community to continue providing aid to Syrian refugees.
Source: Jordan News Agency