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Ammon News - The European Union Delegation to Jordan and the Center for Strategic Studies of the University of Jordan hosted together a “Road to Schuman” Conference.

This conference entitled ‘The European Union and its Southern Neighbourhood: A Strategic Dialogue on Defence, Maritime Security, and Transnational Crime‘ brought together one hundred security and defence experts and practitioners, members of Parliament, diplomats, armed forces and security services.

In his remarks, Dr. Zaid Eyadat, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies, said: “While these [regional security] trends have far-reaching impacts on the politics of the region, so too do current events... Though the humanitarian impact is a non-ignorable factor in the conflict, we must also consider the war’s impact on regional geopolitics. The current war in Gaza holds the potential to destabilize the Middle East, and it must be resolved as soon as possible… with a just and lasting solution that addresses the root causes of this conflict.”

In his opening remarks, H.E. Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas, Ambassador of the European Union to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, said: “With the return of power politics on European soil, but also in the Middle East and beyond, the threats to international peace and security are evolving. We see brutal and open wars of various intensities surrounding us, but also the rise of hybrid warfare and the weaponization of all human activities. How to defend our citizens and protect our freedoms? By forging a strong partnership with our Allies. The question is how and this is what we came to discuss in Amman today.”

In keynote addresses, H.E. 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, compared notes on the challenges facing Europe and its Southern neighbourhood, responses and results.

The first panel discussion included Dr. Karim Haggag, Director for Global Affairs of the American University of Cairo, EU Ambassador Hugues Mingarelli and Dr. Hanna Shelest from the Foreign Policy Council ‘Ukrainian Prism’. Participants and experts discussed the evolving EU security and defence agenda, and the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the relations between the EU and its southern partners.

The second panel discussion was focused on maritime Security and special attention was given to the Red Sea and the new EU maritime operation ASPIDES, with interventions by Dr Abdel Monem Said from the Egyptian Senate, and EU Ambassador Patrick Simonnet.

A third panel allowed Dr Mohammed Farghal, former Director General of the King Abdullah II Center for Design and Development, Dr Hasan Al-Momani, Dean of the Prince Al Hussein Bin Abdullah II School of Political Science and International Studies of the University of Jordan, and Brigadier General Riad Al-Jariri from the General Intelligence Directorate to discuss border security challenges and the fight against transnational crime in the Middle East.

The “Road to Schuman” conference, which concluded with remarks by EU Ambassador Patrick Simonnet and H. E. Jawad Anani, former Foreign Minister of Jordan, is part of a series of events to discuss partners’ security concerns, listen to their views and identify future avenues for cooperation, in preparation for the Schuman Security and Defence Forum.

The second edition of the Schuman Security and Defence Forum [“Schuman Forum” https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/schuman-security-and-defence-forum_en)] will take place in Brussels on 28-29 May 2024. It will bring together high-level representatives of the European Union, EU Member states and partner countries, international and regional organisations, as well as leading think-tanks and academia.

The Forum aims at shedding light on how ongoing and potential peace, security and defence partnerships can respond to the most pressing common security threats and challenges and contribute to global peace and security as well as uphold the international rules-based order and multilateralism.