By : Nedal Zubeidi
Jordan Daily – Jordan and the European Union announced plans to elevate their partnership to a strategic level, highlighting their commitment to regional peace, stability, and security. The decision was made at the EU-Jordan Association Council meeting held in Brussels today , where officials emphasized the strength and importance of their relationship.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ayman Safadi, expressed gratitude for European support, particularly the EU’s recent pledge of over 900 million euros in soft loans and grants to support Jordan’s economy. “The strength of the partnership between the EU and Jordan was reiterated during His Majesty’s latest visit in November,” Safadi said. He added that these funds are vital for Jordan’s economic development amid regional instability.
The discussions also focused on the Syrian refugee crisis in Jordan. Safadi emphasized that the solution lies in facilitating the voluntary return of refugees to Syria. “The answer to the Syrian refugee problem is their return to their country,” he said. Safadi raised concerns about the declining international support for Jordan’s refugee response plan, which received only 6% of the required funding by mid-2023, compared to 29% last year. “We cannot and will not be able to fill the gap created by donors and UN organizations not doing what they need to do,” he warned.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell underscored Jordan’s crucial role in regional stability and reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Jordan’s political, economic, and administrative reforms. “Jordan is an indispensable partner for us, a pillar of regional stability,” Borrell said. He also expressed deep concern over the ongoing conflict in Gaza, highlighting the severe humanitarian crisis and the importance of upholding international law. “The scope of the tragedy for the civilian population in Gaza is breaking all limits we knew so far,” Borrell said.
The role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) was also discussed. Borrell dismissed any attempts to label UNRWA as a terrorist organization and emphasized its critical role in the region. “We will continue – along with other international donors – supporting and funding UNRWA,” he said.
Oliver Varhelyi, the EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, echoed the commitment to support Jordan. “We have always considered Jordan to be a stabilizing force in the region,” Varhelyi said. He reiterated the EU’s dedication to assisting Jordan in its comprehensive reform and modernization efforts.
The meeting concluded with a unified stance on addressing the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, the necessity of ending the war, and the implementation of a two-state solution for lasting peace and security in the region.