The chairman and members of the Jordanian-European Parliamentary Friendship Association on Tuesday met with Ambassador of the European Union Maria Hadjitheodosiou for a discussion on ways to cement the Kingdom’s ties with the bloc, in addition to a number of Middle East issues.
Chairman of the Association, MP Khaldoun Hina, underlined the need to bolster Jordanian-European economic cooperation to help the Kingdom address the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic and the Syrian refugee crisis, which continues to strain the national economy and infrastructure.
Members of the association highlighted the Hashemite Custodianship over Jerusalem’s Holy Sites, and called for supporting His Majesty the King’s stances in finding a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict and achieving stability in the region.
They also called for increasing investments that bring about sustainable development, in the fields of transportation, energy and water, underlining the need to cement economic and parliamentary relations between Jordan and the EU to exchange knowledge and expertise.
For her part, Hadjitheodosiou said that the EU has a strong and long-term relationship with Kingdom, which, she said, is a major partner. She indicated that the EU aims to achieve the two-state solution and establish a viable and independent Palestinian state in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions.
She appreciated the role played by His Majesty the King in solving the Palestinian issue.
Hadjitheodosu indicated that the current priorities of the Jordan-EU partnership include strengthening cooperation on regional stability and security, combating terrorism, promoting economic stability and sustainable growth, creating jobs, and enhancing the rule of law and human rights.
She explained that these priorities were set out in consultation with the Jordanian government to respond to the challenges currently facing Jordan and to reflect the new EU priorities for 2021-2027.
The ambassador voiced appreciation of the EU and its members for Jordan’s hosting of Syrian refugees, referring to the bloc’s support in this regard.
Source: Jordan News Agency