EU renews support for Jordan reform programme 

(MENAFN - Jordan Times) 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.

During his 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, besides efforts to achieve peace in the region, a Royal Court statement said.

At his meeting with European Commission President Jos Manuel Barroso, the two 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 within the EU.

The King highlighted the efforts that Jordan is exerting in various fields to achieve political and economic reform. He outlined the amendments to the Constitution endorsed in September last year and a package of laws to regulate political life.

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 the Arab consensus and the mission of UN-Arab League envoy to Syria Kofi Annan to stop the bloodshed", the statement added.

The two sides also reviewed the Middle East peace efforts to arrive at 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" regarding 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, the Monarch met with European Council President Herman van Rompuy to discuss Jordan's relations with European countries and the latest regional developments.

The two leaders called for a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Syria and increasing international efforts to return the Palestinians and Israelis to the negotiating table.

King Abdullah also highlighted Jordan's reform process, the statement said.

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 president commended Jordan's reform drive and its policy to engage women in the political sphere.

His Majesty is expected to address the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.