King witnesses signing of Joint Declaration on EU-Jordan Strategic, Comprehensive Partnership

- EU extends package of assistance of 3 billion euros for Jordan 

- Partnership agreement stipulates enhancing Jordan-EU cooperation across various fields

- Agreement stresses parties' commitment to preserving historical status quo in Jerusalem's holy sites, importance of Hashemite Custodianship

- Von der Leyen says Jordan is key partner for Europe in Middle East, Mediterranean, pillar of regional stability

 AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on Wednesday witnessed the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership between Jordan and the European Union. 

To support the goals of this partnership, the EU is tabling a financial package of assistance for Jordan for 2025-2027, worth 3 billion euros. This includes 640 million euros in grants, 1.4 billion euros in investments, and 1 billion euros in Macro-Financial Assistance, according to a Royal Court statement.  

The signing of the declaration, attended by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, indicates the importance of the partnership between Jordan and the EU, and recognises the Kingdom's role in pursuit of peace and stability in the region. 

The partnership agreement stipulates enhancing cooperation between the two sides across the political, security and defence fields, as well as in economic resilience, trade and investment, human resources, and support for refugees and host countries.

 The partnership agreement also includes clauses on strengthening efforts to tackle drug and arms smuggling, incentivising private sector investment, and supporting sectors such as water, energy, technology, and entrepreneurship, the statement said. 

The agreement stresses the parties' commitment to preserving the historical status quo in the holy sites in Jerusalem, as well as the importance of the Hashemite Custodianship of Muslim and Christian holy sites in the Holy City.

In July 2024, Jordan and the EU announced their desire to work towards upgrading relations to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership, embodying the strategic nature of relations and building on the EU-Jordan Association Agreement signed in 1997 and entered into force in 2002.

Commenting on the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership between Jordan and the European Union, Von der Leyen said Jordan is a key partner for Europe in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, serving as a pillar of regional stability, according to the statement. 

She added that with this partnership, the EU and Jordan are deepening what is already a long-standing relationship and strong friendship, to better tackle common challenges.

The partnership agreement was signed by Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Toukan and European Union Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Alaa Batayneh, and Jordan’s Ambassador to Belgium Yousef Bataineh attended the signing.