King Meets EU Foreign Policy Chief

His Majesty King Abdullah II met with EU's foreign policy chief Baroness Catherine Ashton who is heading the EU Task Force currently visiting the Kingdom for talks on means of forging closer political, economic and cultural cooperation. The King and Ashton voiced keenness to promote partnership and cooperation between Jordan and the EU, 10 years after the signing of the partnership agreement between the two sides.

The EU official briefed His Majesty on meeting of the EU-Jordan Task Force which was held at the Dead Sea shores today. At the meeting, which was attended by Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh and other top officials, the King and the EU official also discussed means of activating Jordan's advanced status with the EU and helping the Kingdom to press ahead with the reform process. King Abdullah expressed appreciation of the EU's continued support to programs and plans being implemented by Jordan to achieve sustainable development in various fields and to the comprehensive reform process that aim at achieving a better future for all Jordanians.

Jordan, the King, said seeks to be a role model in reform and good governance and attaches major attention to achieving economic reforms that address poverty and unemployment. Ashton for her part highly valued the Jordanian-European dialogue that started today as well as steps taken by His Majesty the King to enhance public participation in decision making. She said that the success of Jordan's reform efforts is important for Europe and affirmed the EU's support for these efforts. The EU-Jordan Task Force was set up to help address the challenges Jordan is facing in the political and economic reform process. It also aims to coordinate more efficiently the support of the EU, of its member States and a number of European and international bodies, with a particular focus on short- and mid-term polices and initiatives adopted by the Jordanian government.