His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday stressed the need to promote Jordanian–European cooperation in political and economic domains and build on the strong relations between Jordan and Europe.
During a visit to Brussels, King Abdullah met with several senior European officials and reviewed ways to strengthen Jordanian-European ties and the latest developments at the Arab and regional levels, as well as efforts to achieve peace in the region.
King Abdullah and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso asserted the importance of building on the distinguished partnership between Jordan and Europe.
They called for consolidating political and economic cooperation, especially in light of Jordan’s advanced status partnership with the EU.
The King highlighted Jordanian efforts to achieve political and economic reform. He outlined the amendments to the Constitution endorsed last September and a package of new political laws.
Barroso renewed EU support for Jordan’s reform and for the Kingdom’s programmes and plans to achieve sustainable development.
The two sides held the first Jordan-EU Task Force meeting on the shores of the Dead Sea in February, at the end of which EU officials announced that the Kingdom would receive a financial assistance package of around three billion euros over the next three years, of which 1.2 billion from EU member states that will be available within the following 12 months.
The King and Barroso also reviewed the latest developments in the region, especially the unrest in Syria and ways to deal with it, within the framework of Arab consensus and the mission of UN-Arab League envoy to Syria Kofi Annan to stop the bloodshed.
The two sides also reviewed efforts to achieve a just and viable solution for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict that addresses all final status issues.
In statements to the press after Tuesday’s meeting, the King praised Jordanian-EU relations. “I am extremely happy with the progress we are making in developing Jordanian-European relations, which have gone from strength to strength over the years,” he said, reiterating Jordan’s commitment to achieve reform.
“Our unwavering commitment to reform is aided by our friends in the EU, to whom we remain profoundly grateful, especially for understanding that effective and substantial economic support is needed to back Jordan’s ambitious political reform programme.”
The King said Jordan and the EU remain “on the same page” on regional and international issues “ and “we will continue to work together to improve the chances of stabilising a region which cannot take further turmoil”.
Barroso said Jordan is an active partner to the EU in the region.
Also on Tuesday, His Majesty met with European Council President Herman van Rompuy to discuss Jordan’s relations with European countries and the latest regional developments. The King and van Rompuy called for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Syria and increased international efforts to return Palestinians and Israelis to the negotiating table. King Abdullah highlighted Jordan’s reform process during the talks.
During a meeting with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, His Majesty discussed peace efforts and Jordan’s cooperation with the alliance. Rasmussen commended the Kingdom’s role in ensuring the region’s stability.
Meeting later with Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo, the King stressed that Jordan is actively working to find a solution to the Syrian crisis within the Arab consensus. His Majesty and Di Rupo also discussed other regional developments, including the Mideast peace process. The Belgian premier commended Jordan’s reform drive and its policy to engage women in the political sphere.
His Majesty was expected to address the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.