The Presidents of the European Council, António Costa, and of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the King of Jordan, Abdullah II, underscored, on Thursday 8 January, on the occasion of the first ever EU-Jordan summit in Amman, the willingness of both parties “to cooperate for long-term stability, peace, security, prosperity, the universal values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights, and to promote joint interests and renew Partnership Priorities” between the EU and Jordan, according to their joint statement.
“Today more than ever, we work together as reliable and predictable partners. Our bilateral relations are solid and can only grow stronger in the future”, explained António Costa at the opening of the summit, recalling that just under a year ago the EU and Jordan signed their Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership (see EUROPE 13568/19).
“Our partnership is also essential to support sustainable growth, create jobs and foster innovation by strengthening economic resilience and developing trade and investment cooperation”, emphasised the King. He announced that the next EU-Jordan Investment Conference would be held next April. The EU-Jordan partnership “is based on an investment of €3 billion for 2025/2027”, said Ms von der Leyen.
The EU and Jordan also express their firm determination to boost their trade and bilateral relations and to enhance their bilateral cooperation in order to unleash the full potential of the Association Agreement’s free trade area, an agreement which they wish to revise.
The two parties also pledge to strengthen their cooperation on good governance and the modernisation of public services, as well as on issues of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The two sides reaffirmed their decision to launch the first EU-Jordan Security and Defence Dialogue in Amman in early 2026. “The fastest growing area of cooperation is military support through the ‘European Peace Facility’. A new €35 million programme was adopted at the end of 2025 for the acquisition of an air defence system, and other acquisitions are planned for 2026”, said Mr Costa, adding that the supply of this cutting-edge European technology would be accompanied by a structured political dialogue covering all military issues, the fight against terrorism, cyber defence and other threats.
Ms von der Leyen also pointed out that the new Pact for the Mediterranean would open up new prospects, adding that Jordan's work within the Union for the Mediterranean constituted an “ideal basis” for strengthening and developing this Pact.
The two parties also discussed the regional situation, in particular the Middle East, Syria and Lebanon. The EU praised Jordan’s efforts to facilitate the delivery of vital aid to Gaza and for hosting millions of refugees, in particular from Syria.
The next summit will be held in Brussels in 2028.
See the joint statement: https://aeur.eu/f/k72 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)