Jordan Times
Tuesday, December 5, 2006
Progress report commends Kingdom’s commitment to political, economic reforms
AMMAN (JT) — The EU-authored Progress Report 2005
on the performance of European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) member states
commended Jordan as having “shown genuine commitment to working towards a number
of political and economic reforms.”
The report said substantial steps have been made in the field of economic
reforms in recent years, in particular through privatisation and regulatory
reform, according to an EU statement.
Macroeconomic stability has been maintained with remarkable success, in spite of
the pressures on the public budget and the turmoil in the region, the document
added.
In addition, “progress in political reform and efforts to build a democratic
political culture are very positive examples within the region,” the report
said.
Although the Progress Report credits the Kingdom with real commitment to
realising the measures of the Action Plan, it adds: “but it is clear that more
needs to be done in the next four years to translate commitments to reforms into
concrete progress.”
The report on Jordan takes stock of progress since the EU-Jordan Neighbourhood
Action Plan was adopted in January 2005.
The report acknowledged that Jordan’s own long-term reform priorities (as laid
down in the National Agenda and complemented by the “We are All Jordan”
initiative) continue to form the basis of the ENP Action Plan through which the
commission supports the national efforts.
The statement quoted European Commissioner for External Relations and
Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner as saying: “I believe that our
Neighbourhood Policy is bringing real benefits to Jordan and today we are
offering to the country even more attractive incentives. It will bring the
policy into sharper focus, concentrating on key areas of mutual interest like
people-to-people contacts, deepening trade relations, stronger cooperation on
energy migration and visa issues as well as financial support.”
The European Commission said in the statement it would be supporting Jordan’s
efforts in fighting corruption and protecting human rights.
The budget foreseen for Jordan from 2007-13 is 625 million euros, according to
the report, with an increase of 47.2 per cent compared to the 2004-2006 period.
To maximise the impact and leverage of this EU funding, the commission proposed
the creation of a neighbourhood investment fund, “to which member states will
also be invited to contribute, which would be used to leverage additional
lending from the European Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development and other development banks.”
As the EU was preparing for its 2005 enlargement, which saw 10 newcomers join
the union, the ENP was introduced to encourage its neighbours to promote reform,
the rule of law, stable democracies and prosperity.
The EU “offers its neighbours an intensified political dialogue and deeper
economic relationship, based on shared values and common interests in tackling
common problems. The ENP is thus a means of working jointly with our neighbours,”
according to the ENP website.