King holds summit meeting with EU leaders

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday held a summit meeting with European Union leaders that continued over a working dinner hosted by EU Council President Donald Tusk at the council's headquarters in Brussels, a Royal Court statement said. 

The meeting was attended by European Parliament President Martin Schulz, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Investment Bank President Werner Hoyer and several senior European officials.

The statement said the talks focused on ways to strengthen “strategic relations” between Jordan and the EU, efforts of EU institutions to support the Kingdom's economy through simplifying of the EU rules of origin to facilitate investments in development and industrial zones in the Kingdom and enhance Jordanian exports to Europe.

The meeting discussed challenges facing Jordan, the impact of regional crises, mainly the Syrian conflict, as well as ways to minimise their repercussions on the Kingdom.

Talks also covered the need to  implement  the recommendations of the London donor conference, where Jordan presented its case as a major host of refugees and secured assistance from the donor community, including pledges of support from Europe.  

It also tackled regional and international efforts to combat terrorism, with the EU leaders commending Jordan’s role in this effort.

From the Jordanian side, the summit meeting was attended by HRH Prince Ghazi, the King’s personal envoy and adviser for religious and cultural affairs, Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, King’s Office Director Jafar Hassan and Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury.  

His Majesty voiced Jordan’s interest to increase cooperation with the European Union member states during a separate meeting with high representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini in Brussels, a Royal Court statement said. 

During the meeting attended by Prince Ghazi, the King commended the high-level strategic partnership with the EU and expressed his appreciation for the support provided by the union’s agencies to the Kingdom. 

His Majesty and Mogherini discussed regional and international developments and ways to deal with them. The King highlighted the pivotal role of the EU in backing efforts to achieve regional and international security and stability. 

In regard to the Syrian crisis, King Abdullah stressed the importance of reaching a comprehensive political solution, stressing the burdens Jordan is shouldering in light of hosting Syrian refugees. 

He said that Jordan is looking forward to implementing the pledges made at the London donor conference and build on the meeting’s outcomes to enhance economic capabilities, infrastructure and the service sector through addressing the repercussions of the Syrian crisis. 

For her part, Mogherini voiced the EU’s interest in better ties with Jordan to serve mutual interests, highlighting the union’s efforts, in partnership with different parties, including Jordan, to bring about stability and security in the region. 

Earlier on Wednesday, HRH Prince Ali was sworn in as Regent.