Brussels, 26/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 25 October, the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, sent his “warmest congratulations”, to Awn Al Khasawneh, who has been appointed prime minister of Jordan. The Commission president stressed that Jordan is a key partner of the EU in the region and said that he was looking forward to working with the new prime minister, to further develop EU-Jordan relations in the framework of the European neighbourhood policy. Reiterating the reforms undertaken by the country, Barroso stressed that he was counting on the government “to pursue with new impetus the consolidation of the institutions underpinning democracy and the rule of law”. He went on to explain that the EU is “ready to continue cooperating with Jordan in addressing the challenges that lie ahead”, both in terms of the crisis and change in the region. (CG/transl.fl)