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Ammon News - enpi-info.eu

The European Union is fully behind Jordan's political, economic and social reforms, backing up that support with concrete measures EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle said yesterday after taking part in the Association Council with Jordan in Brussels.


It was the 10th meeting of the EU-Jordan Association Council. Cyprus Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis represented EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton at the meeting, while Commissioner Füle, also participated. The Jordanian delegation was lead by Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, and also included the Jordanian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Jafar Hassan.


Speaking to journalists, Füle pointed to the new programmes worth €10 million announced on the same day, which would provide additional support for sustainable and inclusive growth and economic development in Jordan, particularly for small and medium-sized (SMEs) enterprises.


"We have already allocated €223 million for the period 2011-2013 and assigned an additional €70 million financial envelope from our SPRING (Support for Partnership, Reform and Inclusive Growth) programme. This should be seen as a further sign of support and encouragement to the continuation of the political and economic reform process based on the principle more for more," the Commissioner said.


"We stressed also today the need to build an inclusive, participatory, and open political system where all Jordanians feel represented," said Füle, adding: "It is important that forthcoming parliamentary elections take place in a free, fair and transparent way."


The EU will deploy an electoral observation mission in view of the legislative elections scheduled for January 23, 2013, Minister Kozakou-Marcoullis announced, following an invitation of the Jordanian Independent Electoral Commission.


She said the Association Council had reviewed recent progress in Jordan’s reform process. "We have confirmed that the EU remains a strong supporter of Jordan’s political reforms reinforcing democracy, the rule of law and the respect for human rights, and we encourage Jordan to pursue these efforts paving the way to more consensus-based initiatives."


The two sides also signed the Protocol to the Association Agreement allowing Jordan to participate in Union programmes.


Commissioner Füle said they had also discussed the Union for Mediterranean, "and concluded that after months, even years when this beauty was asleep it is time to wake her up".


He added: "We have a strengthened Secretariat, we work on a range of ministerial meetings focusing on sectoral cooperation and as well on how to make this label of UfM attractive for investors. All this combined should then bring change for people on the ground whether they are from the capital or from a village on the coast."


The Cypriot Foreign Minister also acknowledged the difficult situation in Jordan further to the influx of refugees from Syria and commended Jordanian efforts to address this issue. She pointed out that the priority is to stop the killings in Syria and support a political transition. (EU Neighbourhood Info)