Brussels, 26/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 25 March, the European Commission announced that relations between the European Union and Jordan had “progressed positively” in 2014.
Jordan, the EU and some of its member states set up a partnership for mobility in October. Brussels and Amman also continued to make preparations in 2014 for a deep and comprehensive free trade area, and they agreed to set up a regular dialogue on security.
While Jordan was “considerably affected” by the armed conflicts in Syria and Iraq from a humanitarian and economic point of view, “the domestic stability has been preserved in spite of the significant threats that the crises in Syria and Iraq posed to the country's socio-economic situation”, the Commission states in its progress report. In the Commission's view, Jordan has shown great resilience in the face of regional crises and continued to be a moderate and tolerant regional key-player with a stabilising role.
Amman continued its democratic transition process but “a clear setback” was recorded in terms of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms when the country cancelled its de facto moratorium on the death penalty and executed 11 people, the Commission states. The Commission calls for the moratorium to be re-applied and also wants Jordan's electoral system to be improved, as it does “the active and constructive participation of citizens in political processes”. A judicial system that is “fair, independent and efficient” should keep being strengthened, and balance should be ensured between the concerns of national security and the right to peaceful expression of opinion, the Commission adds. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)