By : JD
Jordan Daily – The European Union Delegation to Jordan and the University of Jordan’s Center for Strategic Studies co-hosted the “Road to Schuman” Conference on Thursday, according to a statement.
The conference, titled ‘The European Union and its Southern Neighbourhood: A Strategic Dialogue on Defence, Maritime Security, and Transnational Crime,’ brought together 100 security and defence experts, parliamentarians, diplomats, and members of the armed forces and security services.
Dr. Zaid Eyadat, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies, highlighted the far-reaching impacts of regional security trends on the politics of the region. He emphasized the need for a swift resolution to the current war in Gaza, citing its potential to destabilize the Middle East.
In his opening remarks, Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas, Ambassador of the European Union to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, discussed the evolving threats to international peace and security. He underscored the importance of forging strong partnerships with allies to defend citizens and protect freedoms.
Keynote addresses by Fayez Khouri, Director of European Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Pr. Zaki Laidi, Special Advisor to EU Higher Representative Mr Josep Borrell Fontelles, focused on the challenges facing Europe and its Southern neighbourhood.
The conference featured panel discussions on the evolving EU security and defence agenda, the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on EU relations with its southern partners, maritime security with a focus on the Red Sea and the new EU maritime operation ASPIDES, and border security challenges and the fight against transnational crime in the Middle East.