Fakhoury briefs senior EU officials on Jordan’s economic plans, challenges

AMMAN — Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury on Saturday concluded an official visit to Brussels and Paris where he discussed Jordanian-European cooperation with senior EU officials.

The meetings were aimed at following up on existing cooperation between Jordan and the EU in addition to discussing means to bolster bilateral ties within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and the Kingdom’s advanced status with the EU, according to a ministry statement. 

The minister met with Johannes Hahn, European commissioner for ENP and enlargement negotiations, Christos Stylianides, commissioner-designate for humanitarian aid and crisis management, Alain Le Roy, secretary general of the European External Action Service and Michael Köhler, director for neighbourhood south at the European Commission Directorate General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations.

During the meetings, Fakhoury expressed Jordan’s satisfaction with the level of its relations with EU member states and its keenness on enhancing them in all spheres, also expressing the Kingdom’s thanks for EU assistance.

The two sides stressed the importance of the ENP Review in light of regional challenges and their consequences on Jordan, agreeing that the current review and negotiations should lead to strengthening existing partnerships, the statement said.

Fakhoury also briefed the EU officials on the latest economic developments in Jordan, the major components of the recently launched economic blueprint “Jordan 2025” as well as the first executive, development programme for the years 2016-2018, according to the statement.

The minister highlighted Jordan’s economic and social woes resulting from hosting large numbers of Syrian refugees, calling on the international community and donor countries to support the Jordan Response Plan. 

Expressing appreciation for EU assistance to the Kingdom through the Single Support Framework the two sides signed in 2014, Fakhoury called for more support in the form of grants to help finance development and reform plans, the statement said.