His Majesty discusses cooperation with top EU officials

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday met in Strasbourg with the European Union officials and discussed Jordan’s partnership with the union and ways to develop them, in addition to the latest developments in Arab and regional issues, especially the war on terrorism. 

King Abdullah met with European Parliament President Martin Schulz and reviewed Jordanian-European relations and ways to further enhance them, in addition to discussing current issues in the Middle East, according to a Royal Court statement. 

Discussions also highlighted the importance of increasing cooperation between Jordan and EU countries, especially at the parliamentary and legislative levels.

In this regard, His Majesty underscored the role of parliaments in bringing countries’ perspectives closer, enhancing dialogue and opening new channels of coordination and cooperation in various issues. 

Jordan, despite difficult challenges the region is going through, is committed to moving forward with its comprehensive reform process in an evolutionary, balanced and firm way to enhance democracy and popular participation in decision making, the Monarch stressed.

The meeting, attended by Senate President Abdur-Ra’uf S. Rawabdeh and Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh, also tackled efforts exerted to combat extremism and terror organisations, latest developments in the Syrian crisis, the situation in Libya, efforts to achieve peace, and enhancing regional security and stability. 

In another meeting with President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, King Abdullah reviewed ways to enhance bilateral ties with the EU, especially in the economic, commercial and investment sectors. 

In this capacity, the King praised EU support for Jordan and its development plan, which enabled the Kingdom to aptly address regional crises, according to the statement.

In terms of efforts exerted to fight terrorist organisations and extremist ideologies, His Majesty stressed that maintaining the security and stability of the region and its peoples requires a unified effort within a comprehensive, clear strategy.

On peace endeavours in the Middle East, the King called on all influential international players to work on providing a proper climate to revive the peace process between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

He also underlined the important role EU and its institutions can play to urge parties to move towards a comprehensive, just solution to the Palestinian issue, which, he said, constitutes the core of conflict in the region.

The two sides also reiterated the importance of reaching a comprehensive political solution vis-à-vis the Syrian crisis that would end the suffering of the Syrian people.

His Majesty reviewed the huge burdens the Kingdom is shouldering as a result of hosting Syrian refugees and providing them with humanitarian and aid services, the statement added.

The EU officials expressed the union’s keenness to develop partnership and friendship with the Kingdom, to realise joint interests in light of what has been achieved so far at different levels.

For his part, Juncker said that Jordan’s relation with the EU is a “long-term, strategic partnership”.

After the meetings, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, interviewed Tarawneh who said that the King’s discussions tackled, as usual, national issues, at the top of which are terrorism and extremism and the Palestinian issue.

He also said that His Majesty stressed that war against terrorism is ours, urging Islamic countries to take the initiative in leading the war that targets Islam and its moderate values. 

Chairman of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Elmar Brok said that His Majesty was clear in determining the steps to be taken in fighting terrorism and extremism, which emphasises Jordan’s leading role in this regard.

Brok added that everyone has to know that the war on terrorism is not a war on Islam; yet it is a war on the terrorism that uses Islam to serve its wrong goals.

His Majesty then left Strasbourg for Casablanca, where he is scheduled to hold talks with Moroccan King Mohammed VI.