Amman (dpa) – European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Wednesday that EU countries were “committed” to helping Jordan carry out comprehensive political and economic reforms as part of the “historical transformations” stemming from the Arab Spring. “We are fully committed to accompanying this country on its journey towards an inclusive and democratic society of social justice and economic prosperity,” Ashton told the opening session of an EU-Jordan Task Force meeting at the Dead Sea resort. “This first task force is the expression of our mutual commitment in a time of change and I hope it will send a strong message: Jordan's success is our own success,” she said. The one-day meeting is co-chaired by Ashton and Jordanian Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh and is attended by ministers, senior officials, lawmakers and leaders of political parties and the business community from the two sides. “I believe that Jordan is engaged in a process of important political and economic reform, building on the foundations that are already in place,” Ashton said. “But I say to you this is your country, these are your reforms. The job of the European Union … is to help and support, but it is your country,” she added. Khasawneh expressed appreciation for the EU support and said his government was “determined to go ahead with a package of political, economic and social reforms.” “This meeting opens a new chapter in the EU-Jordanian ties,” he said. The premier pledged to ensure the enactment of a new election law. Under that legislation, he said, fair polls would be held before the end of the year. Other political reforms he envisioned included the creation of an independent panel for overseeing the polling process for the first time in the country's history. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/RVKX7 Tags: Amman, EU, Reform Section: Jordan, Latest News
