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Ammon News - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice President, Josep Borrell, stressed the importance of the Hashemite custodianship over Jerusalem's Islamic and Christian holy sites and its "remarkable" role in preserving these sanctities.

In his interview with "Petra" on Saturday, he noted Jordan is a "major" factor to stabilize the region's situation, and plays an "important" role, which is appreciated and supported by the European Union to bring regional peace and stability.

In this regard, Borrell referred to the continuous coordination, talks and meetings between the two sides for this purpose.

In 2002, he said the European Union and Jordan signed an association agreement, and the Kingdom was the first Mediterranean partner country to conclude technical negotiations, which led to Amman's "advanced status" with the EU in 2010.

On the economic front, Borrell said the EU is Jordan's "largest" trading partner, accounting for 14.7% of its trade in 2020, noting that 20.6% of Jordan's imports came from the bloc, and 2.1% of Jordan's exports went to the EU markets.

In 2020, he announced the total trade in goods between Jordan and the EU amounted to 3.4 billion euros.

Jordan and the EU have "a strong" mutual partnership, and the Kingdom is the first country in the bloc's southern neighborhood to sign the new partnership priorities, he added.

In addition, he referred to talks held at the Dead Sea last Thursday, which reflected the "distinguished relations, solid partnership and ongoing friendship between the two sides."

Highlighting the partnership priorities with Jordan for the coming years, he said its pillars are based on key sectors of regional stability and security, including combating terrorism and economic stability that are important for achieving political stability, strengthening and promoting good governance, democratic reforms and human rights.

The EU, he noted, will support the partnership priorities, regional cooperation and renewable energy development, energy efficiency and water resource management, including support to pump water from the Red Sea to Amman in an innovative project within the European Investment Plan.

*Petra