Brussels, 15 July 2024
The European Union and Jordan held the fifteenth meeting of their Association Council on 15 July 2024 in Brussels, in which they reviewed their increasingly dynamic and multifaceted partnership.
In the meeting, held in the framework of the EU-Jordan Association Agreement (in force since 2002) and the EU-Jordan Partnership Priorities for 2021-2027 adopted in June 2022, both parties recognised the importance they attach to their relationship.
The plenary session was devoted to discussing bilateral relations, and focused on the implementation of Association Agreement and the EU-Jordan new Partnership Priorities (2021-2027), which the Association Council adopted in 2022.
During an informal lunch discussion, the Association Council discussed political matters, and notably regional and international issues.
The Association Council was co-chaired by Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and by Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan, in the presence of Oliver Varhelyi, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Zeina Toukan, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of Jordan, and representatives of EU member states.
- Joint press statement – European Union and Jordan confirm ever stronger partnership at their 15th Association Council (15 July 2024)
- European Union’s position for the Association Council’s 15th meeting
- EU delegation to Jordan (EEAS)
Joint press statement – European Union and Jordan confirm ever stronger partnership at their 15th Association Council
The European Union and Jordan held the fifteenth meeting of their Association Council on 15 July 2024 in Brussels, in which they reviewed their increasingly dynamic and multifaceted partnership.
In the meeting, held in the framework of the EU-Jordan Association Agreement (in force since 2002) and the EU-Jordan Partnership Priorities for 2021-2027 adopted in June 2022, both parties recognized the importance they attach to their relationship. In this context, they noted that the geo-political landscape and protracted crises have changed drastically since the Agreement between Jordan and the EU on the Partnership Priorities. Both parties affirmed their willingness to work together towards elevating their relations to the level of a Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership.
The EU and Jordan reaffirmed their commitment to uphold their democratic principles and fundamental human rights as set out in the universal declaration on human rights and in the EU-Jordan Association Agreement.
They welcomed the progress achieved in the context of Jordan’s political, economic and administrative modernisation process, including recent economic and structural reforms and through the reform of Jordan’s public administration and efforts aiming at further empowering women and youth in decision-making and in public life. Both sides agreed to work together to further support capacity building in the education sector, including among other priorities, technical education and vocational training, scholarships, and addressing the educational gap caused by COVID-19. They underlined the important role that civil society organisations play in promoting human rights, socio-economic development and prosperity. At the invitation of Jordanian authorities, the EU will deploy an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to accompany the 2024 parliamentary elections in Jordan.
The EU confirmed its continued commitment to assist Jordan in successfully tackling the multiple challenges in the context of increased uncertainty and geopolitical instability, as demonstrated by the new commitments made during HM King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein’s visit to Brussels on 7 November 2023, amounting to more than €900 million in grants and loans, and by the European Commission’s recent proposal for a new Macro-Financial Assistance operation worth up to €500 million1.
The EU and Jordan also agreed to deepen cooperation in the field of economic and private sector development. In this context, the second meeting of the “EU-Jordan Investment Platform” and the organization of the first ever “EU-Jordan Business Forum” of 11 June 2024 in Amman allowed to further cement such partnership, representing another mark of EU’s efforts to support Jordan’s ambitious Economic Modernisation, fostering a green energy and digital transition, enhancing EU investments – notably through the Economic and Investment Plan –, and increasing Jordanian exports into the EU.
Both sides also confirmed their commitment to continue their mutual engagement in the justice sector, on security and counterterrorism, as well as to increase efforts to combat the smuggling of drugs and weapons targeting Jordan and neighbouring countries, with also consequences for the EU. The EU underlined its readiness to continue assisting Jordan in tackling these challenges, including through the European Peace Facility.
The meeting also allowed for an exchange of views on a number of regional crises and global challenges. Recalling the different United Nations General Assembly resolutions on Ukraine, the EU and Jordan reiterated their shared principles in line with the UN Charter of respect for international law, territorial integrity, national sovereignty and the need to solve conflicts by peaceful means. They condemned all violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights across all conflict areas.
The EU and Jordan will redouble efforts to reach an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza that ends the war and the humanitarian catastrophe it causes without delay, and reiterate their call for the immediate and full implementation of the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and support for the US ceasefire proposal announced on 31 May 2024, as per UNSC Resolution 2735.
They welcomed the Summit held in Jordan on 11 June at the joint initiative of His Majesty King Abdullah II, His Excellency Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of Egypt, and His Excellency António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations for a “Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza”, and the EU confirmed its readiness to leverage its instruments to support the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza via the Jordanian corridor. Both sides stressed the necessity to uphold International Law and to protect civilians in accordance with the universal principles of International Humanitarian Law, and rejection of any violence against civilians, and any form of individual or collective displacement, forced or otherwise, of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The EU and Jordan also underlined the essential role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) for providing vital services to millions of people in the region, and expressed their commitment to continue supporting the Agency to fulfil its UN mandate.
The EU and Jordan reiterated that the only path to a just, lasting and comprehensive resolution of the conflict in the Middle East is the two-state solution that ends occupation and leads to the establishment of an independent, contiguous, sovereign and viable Palestinian State, based on the lines of 4 June 1967, living side by side with the State of Israel in peace, security and mutual recognition, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law and UN Security Council resolutions, and agreed parameters. The EU and Jordan also reiterated the importance of upholding the historic status quo for the holy sites in Jerusalem, including with regards to the historic Hashemite Custodianship.
The EU and Jordan stressed the necessity of ending the Syrian crisis through a political solution in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, preserving the unity and territorial integrity of Syria, ensuring the enduring defeat of terrorism, alleviating the humanitarian suffering of the Syrian people, and leading to conditions conducive to the voluntary, dignified, and safe return of refugees. They agreed that achieving this solution is key to regional stability. The parties discussed the implementation of the outcomes of the Amman Declaration of 1st May 2023 and Cairo Statement of 15th August 2023 encompassing the ‘Step for Step’ approach and the role of the Arab Liaison Contact Group on Syria.
Recognizing Jordan’s extraordinary generosity in hosting Syrian refugees over a decade and the adverse impact of the Syria crisis on the country, the EU, which remains the first donor to the Syria response in the context of dwindling international support, reaffirmed its unabated commitment to continue supporting both refugee and host communities in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and in the region, as manifested by the significant pledges mobilised by the recent Brussels VIII Conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region” (27 May 2024).
The Association Council was co-chaired by Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and by Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan, in the presence of Oliver Varhelyi, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Zeina Toukan, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of Jordan, and representatives of EU member states.
1 The proposed financial assistance aims to help Jordan cover part of its external financing needs, support the fiscal consolidation effort and support structural reform efforts. The new operation builds on the three previous MFA programmes through which the EU has disbursed a total of €1.08 billion to Jordan since 2013. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_24_182
EU-Jordan Association Council: Remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell at the press conference
Brussels, 15 July 2024
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Good afternoon,
Dear friend [Ayman] Safadi, dear Minister, dear Commissioner [for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi],
The Association Council is one of the many occasions on which we are meeting and talking with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs [and Expatriates of Jordan], Ayman Safadi.
You were in Brussels only less than two months ago. We have a lot of interactions and meetings, and this reflects the intensity and quality of the relations between Jordan and the European Union.
It happens in a very difficult context, and Jordan is an indispensable partner for us, for the European Union, and a pillar of regional stability.
It is important that this partnership continues improving every day, in a continuous process of relationship, reaching out, cooperation.
And that is why, we have to start the preparation to enhance this partnership to bring it to the level of a Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership between the European Union and Jordan.
In doing that, we are only recognising the importance of our strong relationship, and the important role of Jordan in the region.
Advancing in this direction will allow us to further increase our cooperation in key areas which are strategic, which are security, defence, trade, investment, energy, digital, helping Jordan to fully unlock [its] trade and investment potential.
In today’s meeting, we discussed our bilateral cooperation and confirmed [our] common willingness to further enhance it, as I said, in the strategic domains like security, political, apart from the economic and trade areas.
I reiterated the European Union’s commitment to continue supporting the implementation of Jordan’s triple modernisation process in which you are engaged – political, economic and public administration reforms.
We also exchanged on democratic principles, on fundamental freedoms and human rights, which constitute one of the pillars of our partnership.
Here, a particular emphasis lies in the importance of preserving freedom of expression and appreciating the work of a civil society. A vibrant civil society is one of the bases of this modernisation process.
In a further expression of our support for these democratic principles and electoral reforms, I am happy to announce that we are sending an Election Observation Mission for the September parliamentary elections.
You know that for us, our Election Observation Missions are the jewel of the crown. It is the most appreciated tool of our foreign policy. We do a lot of them, we have a strong experience in electoral observation. And we are very happy to contribute with this mission to the holding these parliamentary elections.
In the area of security and counterterrorism, we are also actively supporting Jordan through various programs, as well as providing assistance to the Jordanian Armed Forces from the European Peace Facility, helping securing Jordan’s borders – and further assistance of this kind will be worked on.
Then we go to the wider regional issues. The most important one [and] pressing one, closed to you geographically, and close to us from a political and humanitarian point of view is Gaza.
I want to express my utter dismay over the unbearable climbing human cost and wide-scale destruction caused in Gaza by this conflict.
The scope of the tragedy for the civilian population in Gaza is breaking all limits we knew so far, and also the fact that the Israeli hostages have still not been released.
The massive bombing with heavy death toll in Mawasi refugee camp on Saturday is unbearable, unacceptable.
The bombing yesterday of a UN-run school used as a shelter – it is the fifth in one week.
The constant rise of the number of civilian casualties, as I said, is unbearable and underlines the urgency of establishing a ceasefire and working to find a durable solution.
For that, we continue working with you, with other Arab partners, to help to end this conflict and to find a way to sustainable peace and security for all Israelis and Palestinians.
I have to commend you, my dear Minister, [for] Jordan’s tireless efforts for peace, for stability, your humanitarian efforts, your cooperation in bringing aid into Gaza, for instance through the Jordan Corridor and transport hubs in Amman and Aqaba.
By the way, this is a good occasion to reject and condemn the repeated attacks by extremist settlers on these Jordanian humanitarian convoys.
Today, we have adopted further sanctions against these violent settlers, including the organisation that called for attacking the Jordanian convoys.
On UNRWA, we agreed that it is critical to preserve UNRWA’s irreplaceable role throughout the region, certainly including in Jordan.
We reject any attempts to label UNRWA as a ‘terrorist organisation’. How can a United Nations’ agency be considered a terrorist organisation? And we will continue – along with other international donors – supporting and funding UNRWA.
A special point on our discussion was the situation in Syria and Syrian refugees. We value and appreciate Jordan for hosting such a high number of Syrian refugees for more than a decade now.
This is for you a heavy financial burden. We will continue assisting you in carrying it.
We discussed how to make progress towards a political solution in Syria in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions, and therefore allowing Syrian refugees to return to their homes. That is what they want, that is what they should [be able to do], that is what we also want to happen.
Unhappily, the conditions for many of them are not yet there, and this is primarily the responsibility of the Assad regime.
To conclude, allow me to be a little bit more personal.
This is my last Association Council with you – not the last of the European Union, but my last Association Council with Jordan, and our last official bilateral meeting as High Representative here in Brussels with Minister Safadi.
I stopped counting how many times we met – bilaterally, in international fora, or chairing the Union for the Mediterranean. We have been the Co-chairs, and we will still be the Co-chairs of this meeting I hope, next October.
My dear Ayman, I appreciated a lot your wisdom, your openness, your friendliness, your friendship, and your strong will to look for peace – you personally, and your country.
You were indispensable to reinforce the already very strong ties between Jordan and the European Union and I am happy I could work with you on this for almost five years.
I started working with you when I was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain – my country – and I am happy that for almost five years, we have been building a lot among us, between the European Union and Jordan, and working together for the peace in the Middle East.
You have been a valuable colleague, a great friend in very difficult times, so thank you very much.
Q&A
As it was said, and we know, that Jordan is a very good partner of the European Union, is a very close partner, not like the other partners, how can it profit from its geographical situation and political situation in Jordan to put pressure, to do more on Gaza, at least to have a solution to [deliver] all the aid for Gaza, and for all the issue in general? How can we profit from Jordan as a good partner geographically near both to Palestinians and Israelis, and the European Union?
The [European] Commission and myself, we will present the same approach, I am sure. Maybe the dear Foreign Affairs Minister has a different answer, but I doubt it. So, allow me to start saying that yes, Jordan is a pillar of stability and one of the most important partners for the European Union, in the region. Jordan has done a lot in order to get peace in Gaza. Jordan has been committed. The most important commitment comes from you. When you came to the Foreign Affairs Council, your voice was very important, very clear in sending the message that international law has to be respected, that hostages have to be freed, but civilians in Gaza have to be respected as well. And we have been working hard and very closely with Jordan, in order to look for a common approach from the Arab world and the European Union in order to look for a solution. Unhappily, not all our efforts have been successful, but I wish that everybody could engage in looking for peace in the Middle East as much as Jordan is doing and providing so much engagement and provide humanitarian support to the people in Gaza. This Jordanian corridor is a good example of that. And I am sorry that your trucks have been attacked by violent settlers, and I told [you] today there is a decision to [sanction] some of them. So, Jordan does not have a magic wand, but it has a strong will, and has been using this will in order to do the best. And that is why, we are very happy to increase our partnership and our working together with Jordan. I am sure that Commissioner [Várhelyi] has a good knowledge on how this partnership has been growing along the [years], and will continue growing, enhancing its Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership.
Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-259450
Source – EEAS
Remarks by Commissioner VÁRHELYI at the joint press conference with HR/VP Josep BORRELL and Ayman SAFADI, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan at the EU-Jordan Association Council in Brussels
Brussels, 15 July 2024
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