EU parliament re-launches friendship group with Jordan

The EU-Jordan Parliamentary Friendship Group was relaunched at the European Parliament here Tuesday evening to deepen bilateral ties between Jordan and the 28-member European bloc. "It is an important decision that we are making today with the re-launching of the friendship group with Jordan," announced Mario David, chair of the European Parliament's Delegation for relations with Mashreq countries who will also chair the Friendship Group. On his part, Jordan's ambassador to the EU, Dr. Montaser Al-Zoubi, said the Group will lead to strengthening of cooperation and partnership between Jordan and the European Union and its institutions. "I am convinced that your group and the work that you do vis-a-vis EU institutions and the European policy-making process if of outmost important for us," he stressed. He noted that Jordanian King Abdullah II will be visiting Brussels by the end of the year for talks with EU leaders. The Friendhsip Group at the moment has 16 members of the European Parliament. Asked by an MEP on Jordan's ties with Gulf countries, Al-Zoubi said "Jordan is very proud to maintain excellent relations with the Gulf countries and the support from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Oman." The Gulf countries always stood by Jordan not only at the present crisis but also following the Middle East crisis related with the Palestine question, he stressed. "Jordan has always been the recipient of generous support from the Gulf states led by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the Emirates," he added. Al Zoubi also spoke about the difficult economic situation Jordan is facing due to the influx of a large number of refugees from Syria and because of the turmoil in Egypt that has led to the disruption of gas supply to Jordan